Can Starmer maintain ‘defensive strikes’ stance as Trump escalates threats on Iran?

Warnings that US could attack civilian infrastructure draws questions whether it is legally plausible for UK to still claim self-defence

• Donald Trump says ‘a whole civilisation will die’ if Iran ignores demands

In Downing Street, Keir Starmer has been at pains to emphasise that he will only authorise the use of UK bases by the US for “defensive” strikes on Iranian military targets. In the White House, Donald Trump has threatened to bomb civilian infrastructure – and said on Monday that he was “not at all” worried about committing war crimes.

So far in the war, Starmer’s position has allowed him to present the UK as a responsible actor concerned for regional security – but not a direct participant in the conflict on the US side.