On this video seize taken from footage broadcast by the U.Okay. Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) by way of the Parliament TV web site on March 2, 2026, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, makes a press release to parliament on the state of affairs in West Asia following the actions of the U.S. and Israeli militaries in Iran over the weekend.
| Picture Credit score: AFP
U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended on Monday (March 2, 2026) his determination to maintain Britain out of the USA and Israel’s preliminary strikes in opposition to Iran following criticism from President Donald Trump.
Mr. Trump instructed Britain’s Every day Telegraph he was “very upset” with Mr. Starmer’s preliminary refusal to let Washington use British navy bases within the U.S.-Israeli struggle in opposition to Iran, launched on Saturday (February 28, 2026).
“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our determination to not become involved within the preliminary strikes, however it’s my responsibility to guage what’s in Britain’s nationwide curiosity,” Mr. Starmer instructed Parliament. “That’s what I’ve achieved and I stand by it,” he added.
After initially refusing to have any position within the strikes, Mr. Starmer on Sunday (March 1, 2026) introduced that he had agreed to a U.S. request to make use of British navy bases for a “particular and restricted defensive goal”.
His Downing Road workplace mentioned the Prime Minister took the choice after Iran fired missiles over the weekend that put British pursuits and folks “in danger”.
“All of us bear in mind the errors of Iraq, and we now have learnt these classes. Any U.Okay. actions should all the time have a lawful foundation and a viable thought-through plan,” he instructed lawmakers.
The Prime Minister additionally mentioned that British navy bases in Cyprus “should not being utilized by U.S. bombers” throughout the U.S.-Israeli struggle with Iran.
Britain’s Akrotiri air pressure base on Cyprus got here underneath assault by an unmanned Iranian drone that hit the bottom’s runway.
Mr. Starmer mentioned the strike “was not in response to any determination that we now have taken,” including that the British authorities believed the drone “was launched previous to our announcement”.
Iran’s method is changing into “extra reckless and extra harmful”, Mr. Starmer mentioned.
“They’re working ruthlessly and intentionally by a plan to strike, not solely navy targets, but in addition financial targets within the area, with no regard for civilian casualties. That’s the state of affairs we face in the present day and to which we should reply.”
Printed – March 02, 2026 10:15 pm IST