The prime minister was clear, during his speech on Monday, in the House of Commons, as he emphasized that “our bases are not used by American bombers”, adding that “the strike on the Cyprus base was not a response to any decision we have taken”.
He noted that he agreed to the US request that British bases be used for “specific and limited defensive purposes” in the attack on Iran.
while briefing the House on developments in the Middle East, indicated that he stands by his decision not to support initial joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran after US President Donald Trump criticized his approach.
We are working with our longstanding friends and allies in collective self-defence.
That’s how we protect British interests and British lives.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer)
“President Trump expressed his disagreement with our decision not to engage in the initial strikes,” Starmer said after Trump criticized him for taking “too long” to allow US use of air bases.
“But it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That’s what I did and I support it.”
The British prime minister also said the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had led Iran to attack military and economic targets in a more “reckless” manner in the region. Khamenei’s death “will not stop Iran from launching these attacks,” he stressed. “In fact, their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to citizens.”
Starmer added that “we will continue defensive actions in the region”, noting that “our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them” and stressing that “it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest”.
