Starmer's slow start in the war against Iran could leave UK playing catch-up

"It was clear for weeks that the UK did not want to become part of any initial attack by the US and Israel on Iran, judging it to be illegal under international law, because Tehran posed no imminent threat to the UK."

"Keir Starmer discussed Iran with Donald Trump in the evening of 17 February. At one point Trump asked if the US could use British airbases to launch bombing missions in Iran, raising the question of what else the US president shared of his military intentions with the prime minister. Starmer refused."

"Britain knew that the US was considering attacking Iran from the moment Donald Trump told protesters that help is coming in the middle of January. It was obvious to the world that the White House was serious when the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was sent to the Arabian Sea in late January."

Britain was aware of US intentions to attack Iran from January 2024 onwards, evidenced by Trump's public statements and the deployment of carrier strike groups to the Arabian Sea. While the US built up military forces with two carrier strike groups by mid-February, the UK maintained limited deployments despite recognizing potential Iranian retaliation against allied bases. Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Trump on February 17, where Trump requested use of British airbases for bombing missions against Iran. Starmer refused, viewing the potential attack as illegal under international law given no imminent threat to Britain. Trump subsequently criticized the UK's handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, suggesting the US might need Diego Garcia airbase for operations against Iran.

Read at www.theguardian.com