UK Allows US To Use British Bases Against Iran For ‘Limited Defensive Purpose’
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Last Updated:March 02, 2026, 06:20 IST
Keir Starmer emphasised that Iran had retaliated by launching sustained attacks across the region and its missiles had hit airports and hotels where British citizens were staying.
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The United Kingdom has allowed to let the United States use its bases to fire “defensive" strikes aimed at destroying Iranian missiles and their launchers.
In a video address shared on X on Sunday (local time), UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Britain has accepted a US request to use British bases for “specific and limited defensive purpose" against Iranian retaliation.
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“The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose. We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region," he said in the video message.
My update on the situation in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/DvsOVcTDMy— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 1, 2026
Starmer, however, stressed that Britain was not involved in the initial joint US-Israel strikes on Iran that killed the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and “will not join offensive action now."
He emphasised that Iran had retaliated by launching sustained attacks across the region and its missiles had hit airports and hotels where British citizens were staying. He said that the move was grounded in the principle of “collective self-defence" and was consistent with international law.
“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," he said.
“But Iran is striking British interests nonetheless, and putting British people at huge risk."
Britain’s partners in the Gulf had asked it to do more to defend them, he said, and it was his duty to protect British lives.
British fighter jets were already taking part in coordinated defensive operations and had intercepted Iranian strikes, he said, but the only way to stop the threat was to destroy the missiles at their source in storage depots or launchers.
Earlier on Sunday, France, Germany and the UK said in a joint statement they were ready to defend their interests and those of its allies in the Gulf if necessary by taking “defensive action" against Iran.
Starmer said there were “at least 200,000" British citizens in the affected region, from residents and families on holiday to people travelling. He urged them to register their presence and follow foreign ministry travel advice, which urged Britons in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to “immediately shelter in place".
According to the BBC, the US is likely to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean — both of which have previously supported long-range American bombing missions.
US President Donald Trump had earlier indicated it “may be necessary" to use the bases if Iran refused to negotiate.
The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran early Saturday. Tehran has since retaliated with attacks on US assets and countries hosting American forces, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq. Iranian missiles have reportedly struck airports and hotels where British citizens were staying.
The threat from Iran was also endangering Britain’s armed forces, Starmer said. On Saturday, Iran hit a military base in Bahrain, “narrowly missing" British personnel.
(With inputs from agencies)
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