The Iranian leadership has warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that his recent change of course on the US’s use of British military bases will not be without consequences. The vast majority of Brits want to have nothing to do with the Israeli-American war, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on the X platform. Starmer is putting his own compatriots in danger by allowing “British bases to be used for attacks against Iran.” Iran will “exercise its right to self-defense.”
The British government had previously confirmed “that the agreement allowing the US to use British bases as part of the collective self-defense of the region also includes US defensive operations to weaken missile sites and capabilities used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.”
US President Donald Trump recently asked NATO allies and other countries to participate in the military security of the Strait of Hormuz. A significant portion of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait.
Trump: British should have acted faster
Great Britain initially only allowed the USA to use British bases for defense operations to protect British interests or human lives. The latest announcement from the government in London represents a clear about-face. Trump told reporters in Washington that he didn’t understand why this decision took so long, according to CNN. “They should have acted much faster.”
The British government, meanwhile, emphasized that its fundamental view of the conflict had not changed. “The United Kingdom remains committed to defending our people, our interests and our allies.” They will not allow themselves to be drawn deeper into the conflict. Rather, the war must be ended quickly. (DPA)
