LONDON: The British government gave authorization on Friday for the US to use military bases in Britain to carry out strikes ​on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

British ministers met on Friday to discuss the war with Iran and Iran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Downing Street statement.

“They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defense of ‌the region includes ‌US defensive operations to degrade the ​missile ‌sites ⁠and capabilities ​being used ⁠to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that Starmer was “putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran,” adding “Iran will exercise its right to self-defense.”

Starmer said ⁠this week Britain would not be ‌drawn into a war over Iran. ‌He initially rejected a US ​request to use British bases ‌for the strikes on Iran, saying he needed ‌to be satisfied that any military action was legal.