Starmer defends his decision, citing law and national interest. PM brushes aside Trump’s criticism. Starmer permits bases’ use in defensive operations. Downing Street shares that the UK & U.S. are still staunch allies.
On Monday, 2 March ’26, Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his decisions in the Middle East. Starmer brushed off President Donald Trump’s remarks about Britain not participating in strikes against Iran. He added that his decisions were guided by law and the ‘national interest.’
In addressing parliament, Starmer said he was moved to permit the ‘limited’ use of British military bases by the U.S. on Sunday, 1 March, after Britons came under attack. This was due to ‘reckless’ Iranian drone and missile strikes. He stood by his decision not to participate in ‘offensive strikes’ on Iran that were launched on Saturday, 28 February ’26.
Buffeted by opposing views in Britain, Starmer has had to navigate calls from the left to condemn the U.S. and Israeli offensives. Representing the right, populist Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticized the PM for not giving them his backing.
Starmer told a silent parliament that the UK wasn’t involved in the initial strikes against Iran. The UK is not to join offensive action now. In the face of Iran’s barrage of missiles and drones, the UK will protect its people in the region.
President Trump has expressed his disagreement with the UK’s decision not to get involved in the initial strikes. It is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. I stand by the actions I have taken.
Starmer recalls the ‘mistakes on Iraq’
Earlier, Trump shared with the Daily Telegraph that he believed Britain had taken too long to let Washington use its bases for operations against Iran.
During an interview on Monday, 2 March, Trump shared that Starmer appeared to be ‘worried about the legality’ of the military strikes.
