The UK has agreed to a US request to use British bases to attack Iranian missile sites, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, quoted by PA Media/DPA
So far, Britain has not participated in the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and has reportedly previously refused US requests to use British bases for operations against the country.
But the British Prime Minister said last night in a video address that he approved the request "to prevent Iran from launching missiles into the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk and striking countries that have not participated".
The US will use the bases to "a specific and limited defensive objective" - to strike missile launch sites or missile storage facilities in Iran, he added.
The Israeli military said it had continued to strike targets in central Tehran after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an airstrike on Saturday morning.
Iran has vowed to respond with "devastating strikes" and has fired missiles at many of its neighbors as well as U.S. military targets.
The leaders of Germany, France and Britain said they were ready for "proportionate defensive action" to "nipple Iran's ability to launch missiles and drones in the bud." This was stated in a joint statement by the three leaders, published today and quoted by Agence France-Presse.
European Union member states call for maximum restraint and full respect for international law in the Iran conflict and throughout the Middle East, EU foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas said, Reuters reported.
“We call for maximum restraint, protection of civilians and full respect for international law, including the principles of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law“, said a statement issued by Kallas on behalf of all EU member states.
The EU will strengthen its naval mission in the Gulf region, Kallas also said, DPA reported. The statement came after reports of several attacks on vessels in the Gulf of Oman.
“Our naval mission “Aspides“ is seeing a sharp increase in requests for protection and we will reinforce it with additional ships to strengthen maritime security in the region“, Kallas said during a video conference of EU foreign ministers.
“Iran's proxies must stay out of the conflict. Threats against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are reckless and must stop“, she said. “The entire Middle East could lose from a prolonged war“, Kallas warned.
The “Aspides” mission, created in 2024 after the Iran-backed Houthis attacked several ships, operates in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf. According to its official website, the aim of the military operation is to contribute “to protecting freedom of navigation and ensuring maritime security, especially for merchant and commercial vessels“.
The Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is considered one of the world's most important oil trade routes. About a fifth of the world's oil supplies pass through it.
“The leaders (of the E3 group) are appalled by the indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks carried out by Iran against countries in the region,“ the statement said.
Iran launched strikes against countries in the region in response to strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory.