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The Ministry of Defence has condemned Iranian strikes directed towards a US-UK military base on the island of Diego Garcia.
Iran fired the missiles after warning that British lives were “in danger” after Keir Starmer authorised the US to carry out further strikes from British bases.
Tehran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the Chagos island but neither hit, the Iranian news agency Mehr reported.
One of the missiles was shot down by a US warship, while the other failed in flight, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing multiple officials.
The Ministry of Defence, which described US use of British bases as “limited and defensive” in nature, called the attacks “reckless”. A spokesperson said: “Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies.
“RAF jets and other UK military assets are continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region.
“This government has given permission to the US to use British bases for specific and limited defensive operations.”
Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands, is about 3,800km (2,360 miles) from Iran and home to an airbase capable of accommodating long-range US bombers.
The island has been at the centre of a political row after the UK agreed to cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius and lease back the base.
Ministers gave the US permission to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the strait of Hormuz from UK bases including Diego Garcia on Friday afternoon. Previously, UK bases were being used only to strike Iranian sites targeting British allies and interests in Gulf states.
Iran reacted angrily, with its foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, claiming it would “exercise its right to self-defence”. Posting on X, he said: “Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-US war of choice on Iran.
“Ignoring his own People, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence.”
The US president, Donald Trump, said the UK “should have acted a lot faster” in giving the US permission. He has already piled pressure on Nato allies, calling them “cowards” for refusing to offer warships to reopen the strait.
The UK government had previously granted the US permission only for “defensive” action. When that decision was made, RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by an Iranian drone.
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, described the prime minister’s latest move as the “mother of all U-turns” in a post on X.
Badenoch later added that the UK was being “dragged into” the conflict. “Today we’re hearing that they’ve been firing missiles on Diego Garcia. The sad thing is, whether we like it or not, we’re being dragged into it and what we need is a prime minister who can think ahead,” she told Times Radio.
The Liberal Democrats and the Green party said granting further permission for the US to use British bases must first be put to a parliamentary vote.
In a phone call on Saturday, Starmer reaffirmed to the Cypriot president, Nikos Christodoulides, that RAF Akrotiri will not be used by the US to target Iranian missile sites.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister began by underscoring that as close partners and friends, Cyprus’s security was of utmost importance to the UK.
“The prime minister reiterated that RAF Akrotiri would not be involved in the UK’s continuation of its agreement with the US to use UK bases in collective self-defence of the region, including for the degrading of Iranian missile capabilities.
“Discussing the economic impact of the ongoing conflict, the leaders agreed that de-escalation in the region was the priority.”
The foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, said later that the UK would not be involved in offensive action and had “taken a different view from the US and Israel”, despite Iran firing missiles towards a joint US-UK base.
The government is supporting defensive action which includes “recognising Iran’s escalating threats to international shipping, as well as their threats to our Gulf partners”, Cooper said.
Starmer will hold a Cobra meeting next week to discuss plans to help households with the cost of living caused by the war, it is understood.
Countries including the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea and Australia condemned Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels as well as oil and gas facilities in the Middle East in a joint statement.
“The effects of Iran’s actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable,” the 22 signatories said.
Starmer has also spoken to the crown prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to discuss the war, Downing Street said.
A spokesperson said: “The prime minister outlined the UK’s latest support for Bahrain, including deploying a team of experts to help counter drone attacks.
“Both condemned Iran’s ongoing attacks on critical national infrastructure and the strait of Hormuz. The prime minister updated on the US use of UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region, including to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack shipping.
“The prime minister welcomed Bahrain joining the growing list of signatories to the UK-led joint statement condemning Iran’s attacks and calling for de-escalation.”
