US-UK army ‘focused by missiles’ as Iran say Starmer has put Brits ‘at risk’
Iran’s foreign minister warned British lives are at risk after Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the US to use UK military bases to strike Iranian missile sites in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran has said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer decision to allow US to use its bases has put Brits at risk(Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images)
Iran has cautioned that British lives have been placed “in danger” after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared the United States can utilise UK bases to target Iranian missile installations threatening the Strait of Hormuz.
The decision follows the UK’s previous restriction of the US to only employing the bases to strike missile sites endangering British interests in the region. It comes as a joint US-UK military base was targeted with ballistic missiles shortly after the announcement, according to reports.
The warning from Iran emerges as the Middle East enters its third week of hostilities after the US and Israel conducted joint attacks on several crucial Iranian locations on February 28. Iran responded by striking sites throughout the region.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stated in a post on X: “Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-US war of choice on Iran.
“Ignoring his own People, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence.”
Early on Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the joint US-UK Diego Garcia base, but neither of the missiles struck the facility, reports the Express.
Trump declared on Friday (March 20) that the UK “should have acted a lot faster” in granting the US permission to utilise its bases.
Sir Keir Starmer had previously authorised the US only for “defensive” operations against Iranian missile installations from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Speaking to journalists outside the White House, Trump stated: “It’s been a very late response from the UK.
“I’m surprised because the relationship is so good, but this has never happened before.
“They were really pretty much our first ally, all over the world.
“I was a little surprised in the UK, to be honest. They should have acted a lot faster.”
Writing on his Truth Social platform on Friday evening, Trump declared: “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran.”
Trump has already piled pressure on NATO allies, calling them “cowards” for refusing to offer warships to reopen the Strait.
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