Keir Starmer says US can launch ‘defensive’ strikes on Iranian missile websites from UK bases: PM says ‘it is my responsibility to guard British lives’ from Tehran’s ‘scorched earth’ strikes – however insists we won’t be part of ‘offensive’ motion

Keir Starmer has given the US permission to launch ‘defensive’ strikes on Iranian missile sites from UK bases.

The Prime Minister, alongside France and Germany, threatened to join the war on Iran by taking defensive action to stop the ‘appalling’ missile and drone bombardments targeting allies in the Middle East.

Sir Keir said it is ‘my duty to protect British lives’ from Iranian ‘scorched earth strikes’ but ruled out taking part in pre-emptive strikes.

He said it ‘remains the case’ the UK is not involved in strikes on Iran and will ‘not join offensive action now’.

He claimed the decision was as a result of a ‘collective self-defence’ of allies and to protecting British lives from Iran’s furious bombardment across the Middle East.

The PM said the US can use the bases for ‘specific and limited defensive purpose’ of hitting missile launch sites or storage depots in Iran.

It followed a joint statement on Sunday night with France and Germany, which said they were ready to defend their interests in the region after the ‘indiscriminate and disproportionate’ missile attacks by Iran. 

They said: ‘We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially fire missiles and drones at their source.

‘We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this.’ 

None of the three countries took part in the Israeli-US strikes on Saturday, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But on Sunday British fighter jets downed an Iranian drone which was headed to Qatar.

The drone is thought to be the first taken down by a British fighter jet since the latest outbreak of conflict.

On Saturday, Sir Keir Starmer said British jets were ‘in the sky today’ to help defend allies in the region as Iran seeks revenge for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader.

The UK did not participate in the strikes against Iran but F-35B fighter jets have been taking part in defensive operations from Qatar and Cyprus.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: ‘On 1 March 2026, a Royal Air Force Typhoon operating from Qatar as part of the joint UK-Qatar Typhoon Squadron, successfully took out an Iranian drone heading towards Qatari territory.

‘The Typhoon jet was conducting a defensive air patrol and used an air-to-air missile to shoot down the drone, ensuring the security of Qatar’s airspace and British interests in the region.

‘Our Armed Forces are playing a vital role to protect our people, our interests and our Allies.’

Earlier today Defence Secretary John Healey repeatedly dodged questions on whether Britain supports Mr Trump’s decision to launch military strikes against Iran.

He refused six times in a TV interview to say if the UK backed the US and Israeli action – or if the Government considered the action to be legal.

In an earlier statement, the so-called ‘E3’ leaders condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Gulf states following the US and Israeli attacks.

But the Prime Minister, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz pointedly noted how they ‘did not participate’ in the US-led ‘Operation Epic Fury’.

They also called for the Iranian regime ‘to seek a negotiated solution’.

On Sunday morning, Mr Healey declined to give a direct answer on whether Britain backed the US and Israeli action.

This is despite Mr Trump’s assault on Tehran having being endorsed by other ‘Five Eyes’ allies, such as Australia and Canada.

The Defence Secretary instead only pointed to how Britain ‘played no part’ in the strikes on Iran and said it was up to America to ‘set out the legal basis of the action that it took’.

The remnants of the Iranian regime are launching widespread airstrikes targeting US allies, military bases and areas popular with Western expats – and three American troops have been confirmed dead. 

US allies across the Middle East including Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi with ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones. 

The Iranian regime vowed to unleash its ‘most intense offensive operation in history’, with ‘force’ its enemies ‘have never experienced before’.

At least two drones have hit Dubai’s airport, the world-famous Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah hotels were hit yesterday, and further explosions echoed across the Emirates today.

In the Bahrain city of Manama, the Crowne Plaza hotel was damaged by a suicide drone, and Iranian missiles have also been hitting Tel Aviv – with at least ten people confirmed to have been killed in Israel. There has also been a death in Kuwait. 

Senior regime figure Ali Larijani, who is expected to take over from the assassinated Ayatollah, led the calls to intensify revenge attacks on Israel and the West today. 

Meanwhile, the government is planning to evacuate at least 94,000 Brits currently stuck in the Middle East as air spaces remain closed amid Iran’s suicide drone blitz.

In an unprecedented operation, the UK is hoping to support hundreds of thousands of British nationals in the Gulf as Iranian strikes rain down in the region, killing at least three civilians in Dubai.

The evacuation plan follows US and Israeli strikes on Iran early Saturday in what the two countries described as a ‘pre-emptive’ attack aimed at halting Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran retaliated with missile attacks across the region, with Israel and Gulf states among the reported targets.

At least ten people have been killed in Israel by the Iranian strikes. Nine people were killed in a missile strike on the northern town of Beit Shemesh.

One person was killed and seven injured in an attack on Abu Dhabi’s Zayed airport, while thick black smoke has been seen rising from the Erbil Airport in Iraq. One person was also killed in Kuwait. 

 This is a breaking news story. More to follow.