Arabic version: ستارمر يدافع عن موقف المملكة المتحدة بشأن الضربات الإيرانية ضد انتقادات ترامب

According to BBC News,

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told MPs that the government “does not believe in regime change from the skies”, putting him at odds with President Trump over the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. In his first statement to Parliament since the strikes, Starmer defended his decision not to permit the use of UK bases for the initial wave of attacks, stating that it is his duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest.

Starmer acknowledged that the situation escalated when Iran’s “outrageous” response became “a threat to our people, our interests and our allies”. This prompted a shift in policy, allowing for the use of British bases for defensive strikes targeting Iranian missile infrastructure.

Starmer criticized President Trump’s approach, emphasizing that the UK government’s decision was informed by historical lessons, particularly the mistakes made during the Iraq conflict. He reaffirmed that the use of British military bases would be limited to defensive purposes only, clarifying that the UK would not partake in offensive operations alongside the US and Israel.

However, Starmer faced criticism from various political figures. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of “dither and delay” and called for stronger support of US actions against Iran. Meanwhile, opposition leaders voiced concerns that failing to confront Trump could jeopardize the UK’s safety, reflecting a divided response to the ongoing conflict.

In contrast, Green Party representatives condemned the US and Israeli attacks as illegal and reckless, urging Parliament to vote on any UK involvement in the conflict. Starmer reiterated that the UK is not at war and would not engage in offensive military actions.