Iran issued an ominous warning about British lives being put 'in danger' after Sir Keir Starmer gave the green light for UK bases to be used for strikes against the nation.
Amid mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, government ministers announced the move on Friday (20 March) - although he scathingly said the Prime Minister 'should have acted a lot faster'.
But this really hasn't gone down well with Iranian officials, who have chillingly warned that the country will 'exercise its right to self-defence'.
Previously, Starmer had only allowed the US to use British bases - including the one on Diego Garcia - to hit missile sites that targeted areas of our interests in the region.
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But on Friday, Downing Street said that bases can now be used by the States for 'defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz'.
A spokesperson explained: "[Ministers] reaffirmed that the principles behind the UK’s approach to the conflict remain the same: the UK remains committed to defending our people, our interests and our allies, acting in accordance with international law and not getting drawn into the wider conflict. Ministers underlined the need for urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war."
Trump told reporters outside of the White House that the response from the UK had been 'very late' in the day, saying: "I’m surprised because the relationship is so good, but this has never happened before.
"They were really, pretty much our first ally, all over the world," he said, before adding of the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia: "They didn’t want us to use the island, the so called island, which for some reason they gave up rights to it. I was a little surprised in the UK, to be honest. They should have acted a lot faster."
In response to the news, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi took to X to caution the UK about the potential consequences this could lead to.
In a post shared on the social media site on Friday evening, the diplomat said: "Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-U.S. 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."
Reports then emerged on Saturday (21 March) morning which claimed that Iran had unleashed missiles towards the Diego Garcia base, which is located in the Chagos Islands.
It is around 3,800km (2,360 miles) away from Iran and home to an airbase that is capable of accommodating long-range US bombers. The UK has agreed to cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius and lease back the base.
Tehran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles - but neither hit, according to the Wall Street Journal.
One of the missiles was shot down by a US warship, while the other failed in flight, the newspaper said.
The Ministry of Defence condemned Iran’s latest 'reckless' attack, saying the nation was 'lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz'.
A spokesperson described the nation's latest moves as a 'threat to British interests and British allies', saying: "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."
Diego Garcia is strategically valuable to the US, and has been used as a launchpad for operations in the Middle East for years.
It has a large airfield, major fuel storage facilities, radar installations and a deep-water port.
Earlier this month, RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by an Iranian drone after the government granted the US permission to launch defensive action from UK bases.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Sir Keir’s latest move as the 'mother of all U-turns' in a post on X, while both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party said that granting further permission for the US to use British bases must first have a parliamentary vote.
The Prime Minister will hold a Cobra meeting next week to discuss plans to help households with the cost of living caused by the war, it is understood.
Topics: Army, Iran, Israel, Politics, UK News, US News, Keir Starmer
Olivia Burke