𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Keir Starmer defended his Iran strikes decision after he was publicly rebuked by Donald Trump. The US President said he was “very disappointed” that the Prime Minister initially refused to allow UK military bases to be used by the US.

Mr Trump said it “took far too long” for Sir Keir to change his mind after he gave the green light on Sunday night for US forces to operate from British bases against Tehran to target missile sites. Speaking in the Commons today, Sir Keir insisted his decision was in Britain’s national interest.

He told MPs: “That decision was deliberate. We believe that the best way forward for the region and for the world is a negotiated settlement in which Iran agrees to give up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon, and ceases its destabilising activity across the region. That has been the long-standing position of successive British governments.

“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That is what I’ve done, and I stand by it.”

However, he added that Iran’s retaliation to the attacks had threatened British people and the country’s interests.

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He said Iran had launched hundreds of missiles and thousands of drones at countries which did not take part in the attack.

Sir Keir said: “But, it is clear that Iran’s outrageous response has become a threat to our people, our interests, and our allies and it cannot be ignored.”

The PM’s decision has come under fire from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage.