Keir Starmer has confirmed that the UK will allow the United States to use British military bases to carry out what he described as “specific and limited defensive” strikes against Iranian missile sites.
In a recorded statement on Sunday evening, Starmer said the decision had been taken as Iranian actions became “increasingly reckless” and put British lives at risk. The UK has not directly participated in US-Israeli strikes on Iran so far.
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“The US has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose,” he said.
“We have taken the decision to accept this request – to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region … killing innocent civilians … putting British lives at risk … and hitting countries that have not been involved.”
Legal basis and regional security
The government released a summary of its legal position, stating: “The UK is acting in the collective self-defence of regional allies who have requested support.”
Starmer said around 200,000 British nationals were currently in Middle Eastern countries targeted by Iranian strikes.
“The only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source in their storage depots or the launchers used to fire them,” he said, adding that British jets were already involved in coordinated defensive operations and had intercepted Iranian attacks.
In a joint statement with France and Germany, the UK said it would take “necessary and proportionate defensive action” to help prevent further missile and drone launches.
Political backlash
The decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties and some within Labour.
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, demanded that MPs be given a vote.
“This is a slippery slope,” he said. “Starmer must come to parliament, set out the legal case in full, and give MPs a vote. The UK must not be complicit in illegal military action.”
Zack Polanski also described US action as an “illegal and unprovoked attack”.
At the same time, Starmer has faced pressure from the Conservatives and Reform UK to offer stronger backing to Donald Trump.
The government has declined to say it supports US strikes, which Washington claims killed around 48 Iranian leaders, and has not stated whether it considers them lawful.
Defence secretary John Healey said “few people will mourn” the reported death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, calling the regime “a source of evil”.
The government has not specified which British bases may be used.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Source ·01.03.2026