LONDON — Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his Middle East policy on Monday, shrugging off criticism from President Donald Trump over Britain’s choice not to participate in strikes against Iran. Starmer emphasized that his decisions were driven by legal considerations and the “national interest.”
Addressing parliament, Starmer explained that he permitted the “limited” use of British military bases by the US on Sunday after Iranian drone and missile attacks posed a threat to British nationals. However, he maintained his position against participating in the “offensive strikes” on Iran initiated on Saturday.
Stay updated with The Post’s live reporting on the US airstrikes in Iran
Starmer faced a challenging situation in Britain, balancing demands from the left to denounce US and Israeli actions, while on the right, Nigel Farage of the populist Reform UK criticized him for withholding support.
“We did not partake in the initial strikes against Iran, nor will we engage in offensive military actions now. However, in response to Iran’s missile and drone attacks, we are committed to protecting our citizens in the region,” Starmer declared to a hushed parliament.
“President Trump disagrees with our decision to abstain from the initial strikes, but my responsibility is to assess what best serves Britain’s national interest. That is the basis for my decision, and I firmly uphold it,” he concluded.
Starmer warns of ‘mistakes of Iraq’
Earlier, Trump told the Daily Telegraph he believed Britain had taken too long to let Washington use its bases in operations against Iran.
In an interview published on Monday Trump said Starmer appeared to be “worried about the legality” of the strikes.
“That’s probably never happened between our countries before,” Trump said of the disagreement, adding Starmer’s shift in stance took “far too much time”.
A former human rights lawyer, Starmer has long promoted his “iron-clad” commitment to international law.
In parliament, he said he did not want to repeat mistakes made over the invasion of Iraq in 2003, when Britain joined US action to remove Saddam Hussein that was justified on false claims that the country had weapons of mass destruction.
“We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons. Any UK actions must always have a lawful basis, and a viable, thought through plan,” Starmer said. “This government does not believe in regime change from the skies.”
Britain will defend Britons, allies in the region
The US and Israel launched air strikes against Iran on Saturday that killed its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Trump said Starmer should have approved from the get-go the American use of Diego Garcia, the strategically important air base.
Late on Sunday, Starmer said he accepted a US request for their use in any “defensive” strikes against Iranian targets.
He said this was essential to defend the 300,000 Britons who are in the region, where Iran has struck hotels and airports with missiles and drones in Gulf countries hosting US bases.
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But he was immediately accused by opposition parties for performing his latest U-turn in a premiership peppered with them on policy, and what Farage called a “frankly pathetic” immediate response to the Iran strikes — accusations Starmer denied.
“It is very clear that the death of the Supreme Leader will not stop Iran from launching these strikes,” Starmer said. “In fact, their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to civilians.”
On Sunday, an Iranian-made drone hit Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, causing limited damage and no casualties.
Trump said it was “useful” that the US would now be able to launch operations from Diego Garcia but said he was “very disappointed in Keir” for a deal Starmer made on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands where it is based.
Trump has changed position on the Chagos deal, which Britain says secures the future of the base from future legal challenges while transferring sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius.
Starmer’s spokesperson said bilateral relations with the United States and Trump remained strong.
“The UK and US are staunch allies, as we have been for many decades,” the spokesperson told reporters.
