Keir Starmer responds to US bombing of Iran's nuclear sites as he sends warning
Overnight bunker-busting missiles were dropped from American B-2 stealth bombers on number of targets in Iran included their Fordow nuclear site.
Keir Starmer has warned Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon - as the US bombed three key nuclear sites in a massive escalation of the Middle East conflict.
Overnight bunker-busting missiles were dropped from American B-2 stealth bombers on a number of targets in Iran including their Fordow nuclear site. The attack came despite calls for a diplomatic solution, The Mirror reports.
It is understood the UK was involved in the strikes which came after the Prime Minister repeatedly pushed for de-escalation in the Middle East.
In a statement on Sunday morning, Mr Starmer said: "Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.
'The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.'
Just days ago Mr Starmer suggested at the G7 summit in Canada the US would not become involved militarily in the conflict between Iran and Israel.
"There is nothing the President said that suggests he's about to get involved in this conflict, on the contrary, the G7 statement was about de-escalation," he told reporters on Tuesday.
Buisness Secretary also Jonathan Reynolds reiterated the PM's call for a diplomatic solution on Sunday. He told Sky News: "I know people will be waking up this morning, and they'll be worried. They'll want to know what this means.
"And I do want to give them reassurance that whilst the British government, the UK has not been involved in these attacks, we have been making extensive preparations for all eventualities, including how we look after British nationals in the region and how we get them out, and the assets we have in the region to protect British infrastructure, British bases, British personnel if we need to do that."
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Overnight, Mr Trump posted on Truth Social, saying: "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
"All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow."
Mr Trump also warned the regime in Tehran from retaliating against the US, saying it would be met "with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight".
But Iran said the attack would have "everlasting consequences". Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the country "reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest and people".
He added: "The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations.
"The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour."
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Leader Live
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Starmer warns of ‘risk of escalation' following US strikes against Iran
The Prime Minister urged all sides to return to negotiations but said he had taken 'all necessary measures' to protect British interests in the region if the conflict escalates. There was no British involvement in the action but the Government was informed before the US strikes. US President Donald Trump pushed ahead with military action despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's calls for de-escalation (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) Tehran has threatened to retaliate and Mr Trump has warned of further US action if necessary, saying: 'There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran.' Speaking at his Chequers country retreat, the Prime Minister said there was a 'risk of escalation' adding: 'That's a risk to the region. It's a risk beyond the region, and that's why all our focus has been on de-escalating, getting people back around to negotiate what is a very real threat in relation to the nuclear programme. 'In relation to the UK, we were not involved in the attack. We were given due notice, as we would expect, as close allies to the US, and we have been moving assets to the region to make sure we're in a position to protect our own interests, our personnel and our assets, and, of course, those of our allies.' The US action comes just days after Sir Keir, who attended the G7 summit in Canada with Mr Trump, said on Tuesday there was 'nothing' from the president to suggest he was about to get involved in the conflict. Mr Trump pushed ahead with the action anyway, which he claimed had 'completely and fully obliterated' key nuclear facilities. Asked if he had been left looking foolish by the UK's closest ally ignoring his calls for de-escalation and pushing ahead with military strikes, the Prime Minister said: 'It's clearly a fast-moving situation and there's been a huge amount of discussion in the days since the G7 ended.' The Prime Minister sought to dodge questions about whether the UK could get dragged into the conflict if Iran targeted the bases of the US, a Nato ally. 'I'm not going to speculate about what may happen, because all of my focus is on de-escalation,' he said. 'But I do want to reassure the public we have taken all necessary measures to protect UK interests, UK personnel and to work with our allies to protect their interests as well.' The US has taken action to alleviate the grave threat that Iran poses to global security. The UK did not participate in these strikes. The safety of UK personnel and bases is my top priority. Force protection is at its highest level and we deployed additional jets this week. — John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) June 22, 2025 Extra RAF Typhoon jets have already been moved to the region and Defence Secretary John Healey said 'force protection is at its highest level' following the US strikes. Sir Keir will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra crisis committee on Sunday afternoon and has held a series of calls with world leaders. The US attacked Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz which are linked to Iran's nuclear programme. The Tehran regime has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful but its uranium enrichment process has gone far beyond what is required for power stations. The strikes followed a build-up of US military equipment, with B-2 stealth bombers – which are the only aircraft to carry a 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb – reportedly used to target the underground facilities. The aircraft have previously used the UK-US airbase on Diego Garcia, one of the Chagos Islands, but it is understood that was not involved in these strikes. The attack on Iran also involved US submarines, which launched around 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'By targeting Iran's nuclear sites, the US has taken decisive action against a regime that fuels global terror and directly threatens the UK. 'Iranian operatives have plotted murders and attacks on British soil. We should stand firmly with the US and Israel.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also backed Mr Trump's decision to strike Iran. He said: 'Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons, the future of Israel depends on it.' Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said 'robust diplomacy' was now needed to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat, adding: 'Following the US strikes, it is essential that we work to de-escalate the conflict and achieve that diplomatic solution.' Scotland's First Minister John Swinney called for diplomacy, saying the Middle East conflict has reached 'an alarmingly greater level of danger after the US attacks on Iran'. Iran launched a ballistic missile barrage against Israel in retaliation to the US action. The foreign ministry in Tehran issued a statement condemning 'the United States' brutal military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities'. It added: 'The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to defend Iran's territory, sovereignty, security and people by all force and means against the United States' criminal aggression.' Mr Trump said any retaliation would be met with 'force far greater' than that used in the initial strikes.
