斯塔默稱英國不會參與對伊朗的“空中政權更迭”行動
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/02/uk-will-not-join-offensive-strikes-against-iran-says-keir-starmer
首相為使用英國基地進行防禦行動辯護，但表示英國已從伊拉克戰爭中吸取教訓，認識到製定“周密計劃”的必要性
傑西卡·埃爾戈特和丹·薩巴格 2026年3月2日
基爾·斯塔默對唐納德·特朗普在伊朗的行動發表了迄今為止最強烈??的譴責，稱英國不相信“空中政權更迭”。
首相表示，英國不會參與以色列和美國對伊朗的進攻性打擊，但他為周日晚間允許美國從英國皇家空軍基地對伊朗導彈發射井進行防禦性打擊的決定辯護，稱這是“保護英國利益和英國人民生命的最佳方式”。
議員們敦促斯塔默不要讓英國進一步卷入衝突，斯塔默則表示他對美國的行動以及針對空襲後局勢製定的計劃有所顧慮。
“我們都記得伊拉克戰爭的錯誤，我們也吸取了教訓。英國的任何行動都必須有合法依據，並且需要有切實可行的周密計劃，”他說。“這就是我周末做出決定時所遵循的原則。”
他表示，除非行動有“正當的合法依據”，否則他不會讓英國軍人的生命冒險。
美國總統周一表示，他對斯塔默阻止他使用兩個英國基地對伊朗進行打擊感到“非常失望”，並補充說：“聽起來他擔心的是行動的合法性。”
斯塔默在下議院發言時表示，由於伊朗對英國在該地區的盟友發動襲擊以示報複，英國正在部署飛機並允許使用基地進行防禦。
“伊朗的無恥回應顯然已對我們的人民、利益和盟友構成威脅，這一點不容忽視，”斯塔默說。“我們做出這一決定的依據是維護長期朋友和盟友的集體自衛權，以及保護英國民眾的生命安全。這符合國際法。”
他表示，英國皇家空軍攔截了一架伊朗無人機，該無人機原本計劃襲擊駐紮在伊拉克境內的聯軍基地，英國軍隊也駐紮在那裏。此外，還有兩架無人機襲擊了位於塞浦路斯的英國皇家空軍阿克羅蒂裏基地。斯塔默稱，這些襲擊發生在周日晚間美國就使用英國基地發表聲明之前。
國防大臣約翰·希利表示，損失微乎其微，但英國正在將居住在阿克羅蒂裏基地的家屬轉移到塞浦路斯的臨時住所。該基地並未被用於發動美國空襲。
塞浦路斯一家通訊社報道稱，空軍基地受損是由黎巴嫩真主黨（伊朗的代理組織）發射的小型低空無人機造成的，但英國國防部尚未正式證實這一說法。
此前，斯塔默並未明確反對周六美國和以色列對伊朗發動的首輪襲擊。那次襲擊導致伊朗最高領袖阿亞圖拉·阿裏·哈梅內伊和其他伊朗高級領導人喪生。
此後，伊朗對海灣地區和中東的多個目標發動了一係列導彈和無人機報複性襲擊，目標包括阿聯酋、沙特阿拉伯、科威特、卡塔爾、伊拉克、巴林和阿曼。
預計英國將允許美國使用位於格洛斯特郡的費爾福德皇家空軍基地和位於查戈斯群島的迪戈加西亞島轟炸伊朗的“導彈城”。這些“導彈城”是伊朗儲存和發射高速彈道導彈（伊朗最危險的武器）的地點。
此次打擊行動需要動用美國重型轟炸機，使用所謂的鑽地彈。美國空軍之所以更傾向於選擇英國的基地，是因為它們比美國本土更靠近伊朗。
保守黨領袖凱米·巴德諾克表示，斯塔默利用國際法作為掩護，為其軟弱的立場辯護，並指責他在伊朗報複規模明朗後態度大轉彎。
“今天，美國總統采取了非同尋常的舉措，公開譴責首相，稱他批準伊朗進入伊朗領土的進程拖延太久，”她說道。“我們被告知，這種猶豫和拖延是出於對國際法的擔憂。但我恐怕這種解釋根本站不住腳。國際法並沒有阻止我們的盟友明確無誤地表明立場。”
斯塔默表示：“我們認為，對該地區乃至全世界而言，最佳出路是通過談判達成解決方案，伊朗同意放棄發展核武器的任何企圖，並停止其在該地區的一切破壞穩定活動。這始終是曆屆英國政府的立場。”
“特朗普總統對我們不參與最初打擊行動的決定表示異議，但我有責任判斷何為英國的國家利益；我正是這樣做的，並且我堅持我的決定。”
一群男子正在查看周一在美以軍事行動中被襲擊的警察局廢墟。
3月3日星期二，在德黑蘭。中東戰爭地圖、視頻和照片
但他表示，英國不能袖手旁觀，任由身處海灣地區的英國公民以及英國軍事基地麵臨風險。他說，該地區估計有30萬英國公民，包括過境人員，而英國公民下榻的機場和酒店都遭到了襲擊。
他表示，海灣國家領導人一直要求英國采取更多措施來保護他們。“此外，保護英國公民的生命是我的職責，也是我作為首相的最高職責，”他補充道。
斯塔默表示，英國的台風戰鬥機和F-35戰鬥機不可能攔截所有伊朗的襲擊，因此他已授權美國銷毀伊朗儲存庫或發射場的導彈。
他補充說，此舉將“阻止伊朗向該地區發射導彈，造成無辜平民傷亡，危及英國公民的生命，並打擊未參與衝突的國家”。
首相表示，他希望確保因領空關閉而滯留的英國公民能夠“盡快安全地返回家園”。他表示，外交部將向該地區，特別是阿聯酋，派遣快速部署小組，並要求英國公民登記其在該地區的情況。
PM defends use of UK bases for defensive action but says Britain has learned lessons from Iraq on need for 'thought-through plan’
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/02/uk-will-not-join-offensive-strikes-against-iran-says-keir-starmer
首相為使用英國基地進行防禦行動辯護，但表示英國已從伊拉克戰爭中吸取教訓，認識到製定“周密計劃”的必要性
傑西卡·埃爾戈特和丹·薩巴格 2026年3月2日
基爾·斯塔默對唐納德·特朗普在伊朗的行動發表了迄今為止最強烈??的譴責，稱英國不相信“空中政權更迭”。
首相表示，英國不會參與以色列和美國對伊朗的進攻性打擊，但他為周日晚間允許美國從英國皇家空軍基地對伊朗導彈發射井進行防禦性打擊的決定辯護，稱這是“保護英國利益和英國人民生命的最佳方式”。
議員們敦促斯塔默不要讓英國進一步卷入衝突，斯塔默則表示他對美國的行動以及針對空襲後局勢製定的計劃有所顧慮。
“我們都記得伊拉克戰爭的錯誤，我們也吸取了教訓。英國的任何行動都必須有合法依據，並且需要有切實可行的周密計劃，”他說。“這就是我周末做出決定時所遵循的原則。”
他表示，除非行動有“正當的合法依據”，否則他不會讓英國軍人的生命冒險。
美國總統周一表示，他對斯塔默阻止他使用兩個英國基地對伊朗進行打擊感到“非常失望”，並補充說：“聽起來他擔心的是行動的合法性。”
斯塔默在下議院發言時表示，由於伊朗對英國在該地區的盟友發動襲擊以示報複，英國正在部署飛機並允許使用基地進行防禦。
“伊朗的無恥回應顯然已對我們的人民、利益和盟友構成威脅，這一點不容忽視，”斯塔默說。“我們做出這一決定的依據是維護長期朋友和盟友的集體自衛權，以及保護英國民眾的生命安全。這符合國際法。”
他表示，英國皇家空軍攔截了一架伊朗無人機，該無人機原本計劃襲擊駐紮在伊拉克境內的聯軍基地，英國軍隊也駐紮在那裏。此外，還有兩架無人機襲擊了位於塞浦路斯的英國皇家空軍阿克羅蒂裏基地。斯塔默稱，這些襲擊發生在周日晚間美國就使用英國基地發表聲明之前。
國防大臣約翰·希利表示，損失微乎其微，但英國正在將居住在阿克羅蒂裏基地的家屬轉移到塞浦路斯的臨時住所。該基地並未被用於發動美國空襲。
塞浦路斯一家通訊社報道稱，空軍基地受損是由黎巴嫩真主黨（伊朗的代理組織）發射的小型低空無人機造成的，但英國國防部尚未正式證實這一說法。
此前，斯塔默並未明確反對周六美國和以色列對伊朗發動的首輪襲擊。那次襲擊導致伊朗最高領袖阿亞圖拉·阿裏·哈梅內伊和其他伊朗高級領導人喪生。
此後，伊朗對海灣地區和中東的多個目標發動了一係列導彈和無人機報複性襲擊，目標包括阿聯酋、沙特阿拉伯、科威特、卡塔爾、伊拉克、巴林和阿曼。
預計英國將允許美國使用位於格洛斯特郡的費爾福德皇家空軍基地和位於查戈斯群島的迪戈加西亞島轟炸伊朗的“導彈城”。這些“導彈城”是伊朗儲存和發射高速彈道導彈（伊朗最危險的武器）的地點。
此次打擊行動需要動用美國重型轟炸機，使用所謂的鑽地彈。美國空軍之所以更傾向於選擇英國的基地，是因為它們比美國本土更靠近伊朗。
保守黨領袖凱米·巴德諾克表示，斯塔默利用國際法作為掩護，為其軟弱的立場辯護，並指責他在伊朗報複規模明朗後態度大轉彎。
“今天，美國總統采取了非同尋常的舉措，公開譴責首相，稱他批準伊朗進入伊朗領土的進程拖延太久，”她說道。“我們被告知，這種猶豫和拖延是出於對國際法的擔憂。但我恐怕這種解釋根本站不住腳。國際法並沒有阻止我們的盟友明確無誤地表明立場。”
斯塔默表示：“我們認為，對該地區乃至全世界而言，最佳出路是通過談判達成解決方案，伊朗同意放棄發展核武器的任何企圖，並停止其在該地區的一切破壞穩定活動。這始終是曆屆英國政府的立場。”
“特朗普總統對我們不參與最初打擊行動的決定表示異議，但我有責任判斷何為英國的國家利益；我正是這樣做的，並且我堅持我的決定。”
一群男子正在查看周一在美以軍事行動中被襲擊的警察局廢墟。
3月3日星期二，在德黑蘭。中東戰爭地圖、視頻和照片
但他表示，英國不能袖手旁觀，任由身處海灣地區的英國公民以及英國軍事基地麵臨風險。他說，該地區估計有30萬英國公民，包括過境人員，而英國公民下榻的機場和酒店都遭到了襲擊。
他表示，海灣國家領導人一直要求英國采取更多措施來保護他們。“此外，保護英國公民的生命是我的職責，也是我作為首相的最高職責，”他補充道。
斯塔默表示，英國的台風戰鬥機和F-35戰鬥機不可能攔截所有伊朗的襲擊，因此他已授權美國銷毀伊朗儲存庫或發射場的導彈。
他補充說，此舉將“阻止伊朗向該地區發射導彈，造成無辜平民傷亡，危及英國公民的生命，並打擊未參與衝突的國家”。
首相表示，他希望確保因領空關閉而滯留的英國公民能夠“盡快安全地返回家園”。他表示，外交部將向該地區，特別是阿聯酋，派遣快速部署小組，並要求英國公民登記其在該地區的情況。
Starmer says UK will not join 'regime change from the skies' on Iran
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/02/uk-will-not-join-offensive-strikes-against-iran-says-keir-starmerPM defends use of UK bases for defensive action but says Britain has learned lessons from Iraq on need for 'thought-through plan’
The prime minister said the UK would not join offensive strikes by Israel and the US on Iran, but defended his decision late on Sunday to permit the US to conduct defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites from RAF bases, saying that was “the best way to protect British interests and British lives”.
As MPs urged Starmer not to allow the UK to be dragged further into the conflict, Starmer suggested he had qualms about the US action and plans in place for the aftermath of the strikes.
“We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons. Any UK actions must always have a lawful basis, and a viable thought-through plan,” he said. “That is the principle that I applied to the decisions that I made over the weekend.”
He said he would not risk the lives of British military personnel unless an operation had a “proper lawful basis”.
The US president said on Monday he was “very disappointed” in Starmer for blocking him from using two British bases to carry out strikes on Iran, adding: “It sounds like he was worried about the legality.”
Speaking in the Commons, Starmer said the UK was deploying planes and allowing the use of bases for defensive purposes because of Iran launching strikes on the UK’s allies in the region in its retaliation.
“It is clear that Iran’s outrageous response has become a threat to our people, our interests and our allies, and it cannot be ignored,” Starmer said. “The basis for our decision is the collective self-defence of longstanding friends and allies and protecting British lives. It is in accordance with international law.”
He said the RAF had intercepted an Iranian drone strike heading for a coalition base in Iraq where UK forces were stationed. Two drones were also fired at the British base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri. Starmer said they were launched before Sunday’s night’s statement on the US use of UK bases.
The defence secretary, John Healey, said the damage was minimal but that the UK was moving families who lived at RAF Akrotiri to alternative temporary accommodation in Cyprus. The base is not being used to launch US strikes.
A Cypriot news agency reported the damage to the airbase was caused by small low-flying drones launched by Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy group from Lebanon – but the UK Ministry of Defence did not formally confirm that.
Starmer had not previously expressed explicit opposition to Saturday’s initial wave of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, and other senior Iranian leaders.
Iran has since launched a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks on a range of targets in the Gulf and the Middle East, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain and Oman.
The UK is expected to allow the US to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands to bomb Iran’s “missile cities”, sites where high-speed ballistic missiles, Iran’s most dangerous weapons, are stored and can be launched from.
The hits would require the use of US heavy bombers using so-called bunker-buster munitions, with the British bases preferred by the US air force because they are closer to Iran than the US itself.
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said Starmer was using the cover of international law to justify his weak position – and accused him of making a U-turn after the scale of Iran’s retaliation became clear.
“Today, the president of the United States has taken the extraordinary step of rebuking the prime minister publicly, saying he took far too long to grant access,” she said. “We are told that this dither and delay is because of concerns over international law. But I’m afraid that explanation simply does not hold. International law didn’t prevent our allies from clearly and unequivocally stating whose side they were on.”
Starmer said: “We believe that the best way forward for the region and for the world is a negotiated settlement in which Iran agrees to give up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon and ceases its destabilising activity across the region. That has been the longstanding position of successive British governments.
“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest; that is what I’ve done, and I stand by it.”
The war in the Middle East in maps, video and photos
But, he said, the UK could not stand by while UK citizens in the Gulf as well as British bases were put at risk. He said there were an estimated 300,000 British citizens in the region, including those in transit, and airports and hotels where British citizens were staying were being hit.
He said Gulf leaders had been asking the UK to do more to defend them. “Moreover, it is my duty, the highest duty of my office, to protect British lives,” he added.
Starmer said that it was not possible for British Typhoons and F-35s to intercept all the Iranian strikes and that was why he had given the US permission to destroy the missiles in their storage depots or at launch sites.
He added that it would “prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk and hitting countries that have not been involved”.
The prime minister said he wanted to make sure British citizens stranded because of closed airspace could “ensure that they can return home as swiftly and safely as possible”. He said the Foreign Office would send rapid deployment teams to the region, especially the UAE, and that British citizens should register their presence.
As MPs urged Starmer not to allow the UK to be dragged further into the conflict, Starmer suggested he had qualms about the US action and plans in place for the aftermath of the strikes.
“We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons. Any UK actions must always have a lawful basis, and a viable thought-through plan,” he said. “That is the principle that I applied to the decisions that I made over the weekend.”
He said he would not risk the lives of British military personnel unless an operation had a “proper lawful basis”.
The US president said on Monday he was “very disappointed” in Starmer for blocking him from using two British bases to carry out strikes on Iran, adding: “It sounds like he was worried about the legality.”
Speaking in the Commons, Starmer said the UK was deploying planes and allowing the use of bases for defensive purposes because of Iran launching strikes on the UK’s allies in the region in its retaliation.
“It is clear that Iran’s outrageous response has become a threat to our people, our interests and our allies, and it cannot be ignored,” Starmer said. “The basis for our decision is the collective self-defence of longstanding friends and allies and protecting British lives. It is in accordance with international law.”
He said the RAF had intercepted an Iranian drone strike heading for a coalition base in Iraq where UK forces were stationed. Two drones were also fired at the British base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri. Starmer said they were launched before Sunday’s night’s statement on the US use of UK bases.
The defence secretary, John Healey, said the damage was minimal but that the UK was moving families who lived at RAF Akrotiri to alternative temporary accommodation in Cyprus. The base is not being used to launch US strikes.
A Cypriot news agency reported the damage to the airbase was caused by small low-flying drones launched by Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy group from Lebanon – but the UK Ministry of Defence did not formally confirm that.
Starmer had not previously expressed explicit opposition to Saturday’s initial wave of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, and other senior Iranian leaders.
Iran has since launched a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks on a range of targets in the Gulf and the Middle East, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain and Oman.
The UK is expected to allow the US to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands to bomb Iran’s “missile cities”, sites where high-speed ballistic missiles, Iran’s most dangerous weapons, are stored and can be launched from.
The hits would require the use of US heavy bombers using so-called bunker-buster munitions, with the British bases preferred by the US air force because they are closer to Iran than the US itself.
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said Starmer was using the cover of international law to justify his weak position – and accused him of making a U-turn after the scale of Iran’s retaliation became clear.
“Today, the president of the United States has taken the extraordinary step of rebuking the prime minister publicly, saying he took far too long to grant access,” she said. “We are told that this dither and delay is because of concerns over international law. But I’m afraid that explanation simply does not hold. International law didn’t prevent our allies from clearly and unequivocally stating whose side they were on.”
Starmer said: “We believe that the best way forward for the region and for the world is a negotiated settlement in which Iran agrees to give up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon and ceases its destabilising activity across the region. That has been the longstanding position of successive British governments.
“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest; that is what I’ve done, and I stand by it.”
The war in the Middle East in maps, video and photosBut, he said, the UK could not stand by while UK citizens in the Gulf as well as British bases were put at risk. He said there were an estimated 300,000 British citizens in the region, including those in transit, and airports and hotels where British citizens were staying were being hit.
He said Gulf leaders had been asking the UK to do more to defend them. “Moreover, it is my duty, the highest duty of my office, to protect British lives,” he added.
Starmer said that it was not possible for British Typhoons and F-35s to intercept all the Iranian strikes and that was why he had given the US permission to destroy the missiles in their storage depots or at launch sites.
He added that it would “prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk and hitting countries that have not been involved”.
The prime minister said he wanted to make sure British citizens stranded because of closed airspace could “ensure that they can return home as swiftly and safely as possible”. He said the Foreign Office would send rapid deployment teams to the region, especially the UAE, and that British citizens should register their presence.
