British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday reaffirmed that the United Kingdom was not involved in the strikes on Iran, but confirmed that Britain would support defensive operations to protect British citizens and allies in the region.
“Yesterday, I spoke to you about the situation in the Gulf and explained that the United Kingdom was not involved in the strikes on Iran. That remains the case," Starmer said in a video statement.
He warned that the security situation has deteriorated sharply in recent days. “Over the last two days, Iran has launched sustained attacks across the region at countries who did not attack them," he stated. “They've hit airports and hotels where British citizens are staying. This is clearly a dangerous situation."
According to Starmer, there are “at least 200,000 British citizens in the region, residents, families on holiday and those in transit." He urged them to “please register your presence and follow foreign office travel advice," adding, “I know this is a deeply worrying time and we will continue to do all we can to support you."
The Prime Minister also noted that British forces are at risk. “Our armed forces, who are located across the region, are also being put at risk by Iran's actions," he said, revealing that “yesterday, Iran hit a military base in Bahrain, narrowly missing British personnel."
Addressing the regional implications, Starmer said, “The death of the Supreme Leader will not stop Iran from launching these strikes. Their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to civilians."
He stressed that the UK’s decision not to participate in offensive strikes was intentional. “Our decision that the UK would not be involved with the strikes on Iran was deliberate, not least because we believe that the best way forward for the region and for the world is a negotiated settlement, one in which Iran agrees to give up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon."
However, he acknowledged that British interests are being directly targeted. “But Iran is striking British interests nonetheless and putting British people at huge risk, along with our allies across the region. That is the situation we face today."
Starmer confirmed that Britain has stepped up defensive measures. “Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them and it is my duty to protect British lives," he said. “We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations which have already successfully intercepted Iranian strikes."
He explained that “the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source, in their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles."
Starmer disclosed that “the United States 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."
“The basis of our decision is the collective self-defence of long-standing friends and allies and protecting British lives," he stated, adding that the move “is in accordance with international law and we are publishing a summary of our legal advice."
Emphasizing limits to British involvement, Starmer declared, “We are not joining these strikes but we will continue with our defensive actions in the region." He added that the UK would “also bring experts from Ukraine together with our own experts to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones attacking them."
“I want to be very clear, we all remember the mistakes of Iraq and we have learned those lessons," he said.
“We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran and we will not join offensive action now," Starmer reiterated. “But Iran is pursuing a scorched earth strategy so we are supporting the collective self-defence of our allies and our people in the region because that is our duty to the British people."
Calling the measures necessary, he concluded, “It is the best way to eliminate the urgent threat and prevent the situation spiralling further. This is the British government protecting British interests and British lives."