The British government gave authorisation on Friday (20 March) for the U.S. to use military bases in Britain to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
British ministers met on Friday to discuss the war with Iran and Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Downing Street statement.
"They confirmed that the agreement for the U.S. to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes U.S. defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that Starmer was "putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran."
Starmer said this week Britain would not be drawn into a war over Iran. He initially rejected a U.S. request to use British bases for the strikes on Iran, saying he needed to be satisfied that any military action was legal.
But the prime minister modified his stance after Iran conducted strikes on British allies across the Middle East, saying that the United States could use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-UK base in the Indian Ocean.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Starmer since the conflict started, he was not doing enough to support the U.S.
On Monday, Trump said there were "some countries that greatly disappointed me" before he singled out Britain, which he said had once been considered "the Rolls-Royce of allies".
The Downing Street statement on Friday called for "urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war".
Opinion polls in Britain suggest widespread scepticism about the war, with 59% of those surveyed by YouGov saying that they oppose the U.S.-Israeli attacks.
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Maritime trade between Iran and Qatar has resumed after a suspension of around five months, according to Iran's commercial attaché in Doha. Shipping between the two countries restarted following coordination between Iranian and Qatari authorities.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 2nd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Sunday as Iran held funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four members of his family on the second day of mass processions. Three of Khamenei's sons attended the ceremony, while his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, made no public appearance.
Two senior United Nations officials arrived in Kabul on Sunday to assess the needs of Afghan returnees, as Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said nearly six million people had returned since 2023.
Heavy monsoon rains triggered deadly landslides at Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, killing at least eight people, including children, and forcing authorities to evacuate residents from high-risk areas early on Monday.
NATO leaders meet in Ankara this week at a pivotal moment for the Alliance. While Ukraine remains its foremost military challenge, Europe's rearmament, Middle East instability and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump are reshaping NATO's priorities.
The United States has confirmed that a previously delayed troop rotation to Poland will resume within weeks, reassuring Warsaw after months of uncertainty over the future of the American military presence in the country.
Maritime trade between Iran and Qatar has resumed after a suspension of around five months, according to Iran's commercial attaché in Doha. Shipping between the two countries restarted following coordination between Iranian and Qatari authorities.
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