Britain Shifts Position on Iran | Starmer Allows US To Use UK Bases

COLOMBO (News 1st); UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a significant expansion of British military operations across the Middle East, marking a clear shift in the United Kingdom’s stance toward Iran after a wave of Iranian drone and missile attacks across the region.

Starmer said the Middle East had “been plunged into chaos,” stressing that his focus was on providing “calm, level‑headed leadership in the national interest.” He made clear that the UK’s long‑standing approach had centred on diplomacy, saying the British position had always been that “the best way forward for the region and the world is a negotiated settlement with Iran, where they give up their nuclear ambitions.”

He noted that this principle guided his earlier decision for Britain not to join the initial strikes on Iran carried out by the United States and Israel. “That decision was deliberate. It was in the national interest, and I stand by it,” the Prime Minister said.

However, Starmer declared that the circumstances had fundamentally changed. According to him, Iran has now launched drones and missiles at ten countries that did not attack them, nations that are allies of the UK and host “hundreds of thousands of British people, as well as British military personnel.” He stated unequivocally that “our number one priority is protecting our people.”

In response to what he described as a new regional threat environment, Starmer announced several heightened UK deployments:

Four additional Typhoon jets will be sent to join the existing UK squadron in Qatar, strengthening defensive operations across the region. Wildcat helicopters with anti‑drone capabilities will arrive in Cyprus tomorrow. The Defence Secretary is already in Cyprus, coordinating operations and meeting with British service personnel. The Royal Navy is deploying HMS Dragon to the Mediterranean.

The UK has authorised the United States to use British bases to conduct defensive missions aimed at neutralising Iranian missiles “before they are fired at our people and our allies.”

Starmer said the UK will “maintain this shield over British people in the region and our allies,” adding that efforts to reinforce these defences are being strengthened “every day.”

The Prime Minister insisted that Britain would continue to stand by its values and principles, even under pressure, but emphasised that the new military measures were now essential in light of Iran’s expanding attacks. This marks a notable shift from the UK’s earlier position of deliberate restraint to a more assertive posture focused on direct regional defence.

“We are deploying our military and diplomatic strength to protect our people,” Starmer said, underscoring that the UK’s approach has now adapted to meet the escalating threat.