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The UK has condemned “reckless attacks” by Iran that threaten British interests and allies after missiles were fired at the joint US-UK Diego Garcia military base.
The government said RAF jets and other UK military assets were continuing to “defend our people and personnel in the region” hours after ministers gave Donald Trump the green light to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial to the world’s oil supply.
Downing Street said any such action would still amount to “collective self-defence”, insisting it would not mean the UK was drawn into the wider conflict.
Iran reacted angrily to the announcement, with foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posting on X, formerly Twitter, that the “vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-US war of choice on Iran. Ignoring his own People, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence.”
It is understood that Iran’s unsuccessful targeting of Diego Garcia, in the Chagos Islands, was before Friday’s Chagos Island announcment. But Iran had previously warned the UK that its support for the US would be viewed as “aggression”.
General Sir Richard Barrons, the former head of the Joint Forces Command, said, after the escalation to allow the use of UK bases for strikes on missile sites targeting the strait, that Iran’s attacks on UK’s interests and allies meant “we may not have wanted to get involved but, now we are involved”.
Sir Richard told the BBC’s Today programme: “Iran and the UK have been at odds for a very long time … [They] regard the UK as an enemy, so if you are seen to participate in some fashion with this US-Israeli offensive action then they are clearly going to respond. We should not be surprised by that.”
He added that the attacks could have implications for military planning “because previously we thought Iran’s missiles had a range of 2,000km, and Diego is 3,800km from Iran.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the UK was being “dragged into” the Iran conflict “whether we like it or not”.
She also criticised Sir Keir for not backing the US to carry out further strikes earlier, saying: “He’s basically sat on the fence, hoped it would go away, and then when the news looks like it’s negative, he pretends that he actually made a decision. We didn’t start this war. But if there is any war between the US and Iran, we should never be on the side of Iran. It’s a hostile country that tries to carry out terror plots on UK soil.
“Today we’re hearing that they’ve been firing missiles on Diego Garcia. The sad thing is, whether we like it or not, we’re being dragged into it and what we need is a prime minister who can think ahead,” she told Times Radio.
Asked if she would have backed British planes taking part if she was prime minister, Mrs Badenoch said: “I wouldn’t have joined in the initial strikes, no, but I would have expressed solidarity with the US like the Canadians and the Australians did.”
Keir Starmer gave Donald Trump the green light to use it to strike Iranian missile sites targeting Strait of Hormuz (PA Wire)
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies.
“RAF jets and other UK military assets are continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region. This government has given permission to the US to use British bases for specific and limited defensive operations.”
Tehran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia but neither hit, the Wall Street Journal and the semi-official Iranian news agency Mehr have reported.
One of the missiles was shot down by a US warship, while the other failed in flight, according to the newspaper, which cited multiple officials.
The decision on UK bases has also sparked a row at home, with former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell, as well as the Greens and the Lib Dems, calling for a vote in parliament against their use in the Iran war.
Ministers gave the US permission to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz from UK bases including Diego Garcia on Friday (PA Media)
President Trump also hit out at the UK, saying it “should have acted a lot faster” in giving the US permission.
He has already piled pressure on Nato allies, calling them “cowards” for refusing to offer warships to reopen the Strait.
President Trump has said he is considering “winding down” the war with Iran, as he told countries that use the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane that they must “guard and police” it themselves.
Despite the President’s comments, the White House confirmed the administration was considering putting troops into Iran’s Kharg Island, which holds around 94 per cent of the country’s crude oil for export and its main oil export terminal.
In response to questions about boots on the ground, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said: “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander in chief maximum optionality.”
The US president wrote on Truth Social on Friday evening: “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran”.