Starmer allows US to use UK bases against Iranian missilesآ’ threat

LONDON, March 1 (KUNA) -- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday that the US has asked permission to use British bases to target locations where Iranian missiles were stored and launched, indicated that it was granted.
In a video posted on X, Starmer said, "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 missile across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved".
He affirmed that the decision was made to protect partners in the region and British lives, indicating that it was within the boundaries of international law.
"It is my duty to protect British lives. We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations, which have already successfully intercepted Iranian missiles, but the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at the source," he said.
He added that the death of Iranآ’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei will not stop Iran from launching strikes and becoming more reckless and dangerous to civilians.
"Our decision that the UK would be not involved in the strikes against Iran was deliberate... the best way for the region and the world is a negotiated settlement one in which Iran agrees to give up any aspirations to development a nuclear weapon".
He reiterated that the United Kingdom would not partake in any offensive measures despite the erratic behavior of the Iranian regime, which was seeking a scorched earth policy that will harm all of the people in the region and British interest. (end) gta.mt