Where do the UK's political parties stand on US-Israel assault of Iran?

Following the US and Israel’s large-scale assault on Iran on Saturday, and the subsequent fallout in the Middle East, the UK’s main political parties and politicians have weighed in on the situation, amid pressure from Washington to join the assault.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that his government "does not believe in regime change from the skies", in his strongest rebuke of the ongoing assault, but did not outright condemn the ongoing strikes.

In defiance of US President Donald Trump’s request for UK involvement in the attacks, the British Prime Minister said he is not allowing the use of the Diego Garcia military base for offensive action against Iran, located in the Chagos Islands Archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

Trump said that the relationship between the UK and the US is "obviously not what it was", expressing disappointment over Starmer’s stance.

Starmer, however, gave the greenlight for the base to be used for "specific and limited defensive purposes", amid heightened concerns over British nationals’ safety in the region.

The UK premier also cited "past mistakes in Iraq" over his refusal to allow UK involvement in the US’s assault on Iran.

Over the weekend, however, the UK, alongside France and Germany, said they were "ready to provide the necessary and proportionate defensive measures to protect their interests and those of their allies in the region".

Starmer’s Defence Secretary, John Healey, told the media on Sunday that while the UK had not taken part in the strikes, London "shares the primary aim of all allies in the region and the US that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon".

He also said that "no one" will mourn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s decades-long Supreme Leader, who was killed on Saturday.

The Labour Party’s seemingly "neutral" stance has been criticised by Green Party party Zack Polanski, who is fresh off a victory in a by-election in Gorton, Greater Manchester, and put out a harsher statement against the joint Israeli and US assault on Iran.

On Sunday, Polanski said that Starmer should "stand up to Donald Trump" and that "dragging the UK into another illegal war does not make us any more safe".

He also called the attacks on Iran "illegal and unprovoked," echoing sentiments that the assault violates international law.

Right-wing support

The Conservative Party, as expected, showed support for Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: "The Iranian regime has funded international terrorism, attacked British nationals, and brutally repressed its own citizens, and continues to try and develop nuclear weapons".

Badenoch also lashed out at Starmer for his stance, saying he was "incapable of telling the British people" where the UK stood, and called his response "weak".

The Conservative leader’s sentiments were echoed by Nigel Farage, the leader of the right-wing populist Reform Party. Farage said his response was “pathetic” and said his stance “threatened” the special relationship between the UK and NATO.

As expected, he also supported Trump’s escalation of attacks against Iran.

The unified response from the UK’s leading political parties indicates a potential divide in parliament over the course of action to take concerning Iran, depending on how much further Washington and Tel Aviv escalate their strikes.

The US and Israel launched a joint military operation on Iran on Saturday, targeting the country’s top commanders, military officials, and leaders. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the assault.

In retaliation, Tehran has targeted several US interests - chiefly military bases - across the Arabian Peninsula, including Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain.

At least 787 Iranians have been killed as of Tuesday. President Donald Trump’s administration said at least 48 leaders have been killed by the strikes.