Sir Keir Starmer has said that British planes are ‘in the sky today’ to ‘protect our people’ in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
Speaking in Downing Street today, the Prime Minister said called for de-escalation while hitting out Iran’s ‘abhorrent’ regime, saying they must never be allowed to attain a nucelar weapon.
‘Earlier this morning the US and Israel struck targets in Iran,’ Sir Keir said.
‘Iran has since launched indiscriminate strikes across the region and communities across our country will be deeply concerned about what this mean for security and stability and for the fate of innocent people across the region, which for so many of us includes friends and family members.’
He continued: ‘The United Kingdom played no role in these strikes, but we have long been clear the regime in Iran is utterly abhorrent.
‘They have murdered thousands of their own people, brutally crushed dissent and sought to destabilize the region. Even in the United Kingdom, the Iranian regime poses a direct threat to dissidents and to the Jewish community.’
The PM added: ‘I condemn Iran’s attacks today on partners across the region, many of which are not parties to this conflict. We extend our support and solidarity to them as part of our commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East. We have a range of defensive capabilities in the region, which we’ve recently strengthened.
‘Our forces are active and British planes are in the sky today as part of coordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies.
‘As Britain has done before, in line with international law, we’ve stepped up protections for British bases and personnel to their highest level. We are also reaching out to UK nationals in the region and doing everything we can to support them.’
It comes as Starmer joined European allies in condemning Iranian attacks on Middle Eastern countries following US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.
US and Israeli forces attacked Iran on Saturday morning in what the two countries described as a ‘pre-emptive’ strike against a Tehran government intent on developing nuclear weapons.
Speaking in Downing Street today, the Prime Minister said British planes are in the sky to ‘protect our people’
The attack prompted retaliation from Iran, with missiles reported to have targeted Israel and countries across the Middle East.
Britain was not involved in the strikes on Iran, and the Government has advised UK nationals in some parts of the Middle East to ‘shelter in place’.
In a joint statement with the leaders of France and Germany, Sir Keir condemned Iran’s retaliation ‘in the strongest terms’.
The three leaders said: ‘Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.’
Sir Keir’s statement comes after he chaired a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee before speaking to allies including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The joint statement added that the three countries were ‘in close contact’ with international partners including the US and Israel.
