00:00And it is my duty to protect British lives.
00:05We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations, which have
00:12already successfully intercepted Iranian strikes.
00:17But the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source, in their storage
00:25depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles.
00:31The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and
00:40limited defensive purpose.
00:45We have taken the decision to accept this request.
00:51To prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting
00:58British lives at risk and hitting countries that have not been involved.
01:05Yesterday I spoke to you about the situation in the Gulf and explained that the United Kingdom
01:14was not involved in the strikes on Iran.
01:18That remains the case.
01:22Over the last two days, Iran has launched sustained attacks across the region at countries who
01:31did not attack them.
01:32They have hit airports and hotels, where British citizens are staying.
01:40This is clearly a dangerous situation.
01:44We have at least 200,000 British citizens in the region – residents, families on holiday
01:53and those in transit.
01:57I ask all our people in the region to please register your presence and follow Foreign Office
02:04travel advice.
02:07I know this is a deeply worrying time and we will continue to do all we can to support you.
02:16Our armed forces, who are located across the region, are also being put at risk by Iran's actions.
02:26Yesterday Iran hit a military base in Bahrain, narrowly missing British personnel.
02:35The death of the Supreme Leader will not stop Iran from launching these strikes.
02:41Their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to civilians.
02:49Our decision that the UK would not be involved with the strikes on Iran was deliberate.
02:58Not least because we believe that the best way forward for the region and for the world
03:04is a negotiated settlement.
03:06One in which Iran agrees to give up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon.
03:16But Iran is striking British interests nonetheless and putting British people at huge risk, along
03:26with our allies across the region.
03:29That is the situation we face today.
03:34Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them.
03:39And it is my duty to protect British lives.
03:45We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations, which have already
03:52successfully intercepted Iranian strikes.
03:56But the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source, in their storage depots,
04:05or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles.
04:09The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose.
04:24We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region,
04:35killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved.
04:45The basis of our decision is the collective self-defence of long-standing friends and allies and protecting British lives.
04:57That is in accordance with international law, and we are publishing a summary of our legal advice.
05:07We are not joining these strikes, but we will continue with our defensive actions in the region.
05:15And we will also bring experts from Ukraine together with our own experts to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian
05:25drones attacking them.
05:29I want to be very clear.
05:32We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons.
05:38We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran, and we will not join offensive action now.
05:48But Iran is pursuing a scorched earth strategy.
05:54So we are supporting the collective self-defence of our allies and our people in the region.
06:04Because that is our duty to the British people.
06:08It is the best way to eliminate the urgent threat and prevent the situation spiralling further.
06:17This is the British government protecting British interests and British lives.
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