UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has firmly confirmed that the UK will not join any operations attacking Iran. He believes the solution lies in negotiations but has allowed the US to use British bases to target Iranian missile sites. British aircraft have also been deployed to intercept attacks.
On 2 Mar 2026 GMT+7, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the UK will not participate in attacks on Iran. The UK was not involved in the initial attacks on Iran and will not join current offensive operations. He emphasized that while the UK is not joining attacks on Iran, it will continue defensive operations in the region. British Air Force jets have participated in intercepting Iranian attacks as part of defensive measures. He also remarked that everyone has learned lessons from Iraq, and the UK has learned from those past mistakes.
However, the UK has permitted the US to use its bases for striking Iranian missile launch sites and platforms. Previously, the UK had denied US use of its territory to attack Iran, but Starmer revealed this decision follows escalating threats from Iranian attacks against multiple countries in the region.
Starmer further stated that Iran is pursuing a scorched-earth strategy, targeting UK and allied interests in the region. Therefore, the only way to end the threat is to destroy the missiles at their source. He reiterated that the UK has a duty to protect its people and its allies.
Starmer’s statement comes as the US and Israel continue strikes across Iran for a third consecutive day, focusing on missile bases and naval vessels following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Source: AP