Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that the ongoing conflict involving Iran in the Middle East may persist "for some time," as he called for a negotiated settlement with Tehran as the "best way forward" in the long term. Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer emphasized the UK's commitment to de-escalating the situation, contrasting with US President Donald Trump's focus on regime change and assertion that negotiations with Iran are now "too late."
Defending UK's Stance on Military Action
Starmer defended his decision to block initial offensive strikes by the United States and Israel over the weekend, asserting that he "stands by" this judgment and denying it has harmed the special relationship between the UK and the US. He highlighted that the UK is deploying "military and diplomatic strength" to safeguard British citizens, including the deployment of four additional Typhoon fighter jets to Cyprus and two anti-missile helicopters.
Criticism and Cabinet Support
Despite facing criticism from Gulf states and Cyprus for perceived insufficient protection of regional allies and British nationals, Starmer insisted that "all ministers" on the national security council supported the UK's position. This comes after reports of cabinet opposition, led by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, regarding the use of British bases for defensive strikes.
In a firm response to detractors, Starmer added, "It means having the strength to stand firm by our values and our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise. The longstanding British position is that the best way forward for the regime and the world is a negotiated settlement with Iran where they give up their nuclear ambition."
Evacuation Efforts and Regional Stability
Starmer, who attended his second Cobra meeting on the conflict, assured that the UK would "maintain the shield" over British people in the region and allies. Defence Secretary John Healey was in Cyprus to oversee operations. More than 4,000 individuals have returned to the UK on commercial flights from the UAE, with additional government charter flights from Oman underway.
However, Starmer issued a warning to hundreds of thousands of Britons still in the region, describing the evacuation as "one of the biggest operations of its kind" and noting it is "many times bigger than the evacuation from Afghanistan." He pledged, "We will not stop until our people are safe."
Special Relationship and Bilateral Dynamics
When questioned about Trump's comments suggesting strained bilateral relations, Starmer affirmed that the special relationship is "in operation right now" at UK bases where forces collaborate with American counterparts. He stated, "It's for the president to take decisions that he considers in the national interest... equally, it's for me as the British prime minister to take decisions that I consider to be in the best interest of the UK."
Starmer clarified that no formal request from the US for defensive strikes using British bases was received until Saturday afternoon, dismissing earlier speculation about cabinet divisions on Friday. He explained, "We then worked through the details with the US over the next day... the decision on Sunday was a decision of all ministers among us."
