Keir Starmer’s government has agreed to let the US military use British bases for defensive strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz. Downing Street on Friday announced Donald Trump’s decision to let troops use UK bases to “degrade Iran’s missile sites” as the regime effectively blocks a vital oil route for Western tankers.
Hours earlier, Iranian state media claimed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had warned Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper that allowing British military bases to be used by the US military would be viewed by Tehran as an act of aggression. mirror Report. Downing Street has previously allowed the US military to use UK bases to prevent Iran from firing missiles that threaten British interests or lives. But the new move could also allow US troops to use British bases to protect ships in the strait.
After a meeting with top ministers on Friday, a No 10 spokesman confirmed Britain had given the US permission to use its military bases in the region to help defend against attacks. This includes taking action against missile sites that pose a threat to ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The full statement read: “They confirmed that the US agreement to use UK bases in the collective self-defense of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
“They reaffirmed that the principles behind the UK’s approach to the conflict remain the same: the UK is committed to protecting our people, our interests and our allies, acting in accordance with international law and not engaging in a wider conflict. Ministers underlined the need for immediate de-escalation and a quick resolution to the conflict.”
In recent weeks, Donald Trump He sharply criticized Starmer, saying in a brutal comment that the Prime Minister was “no Winston Churchill.”
