UK's Starmer says US can use British bases

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday that his country has accepted a U.S. request to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missiles in storage depots or launchers.



"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 ​a video message on X.



Starmer reiterated that Britain was not involved in the joint U.S.-Israel air strikes on Iran that killed the country's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday, adding that Britain would not join further waves of strikes.



But he said Iran had retaliated by launching sustained attacks across the region and its missiles had hit airports and hotels where British citizens were staying.



"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.