British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the decision was based on the "collective self-defence of long-standing friends and allies and protecting British lives" in the Middle East.  British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday (Mar 1) that his country has accepted a United States request to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missiles in storage depots or launchers. "The US has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose.