Is the UK's intervention in Iran war legal?
Middle East Eye • • world
Key Points:
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK would intervene defensively in the US-Israel-Iran conflict by intercepting Iranian missiles/drones and allowing limited US use of British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites targeting Gulf allies.
- The UK insists its role is defensive, proportionate, and based on collective self-defence requested by Gulf states under Article 51 of the UN Charter, aiming to prevent escalation and support diplomacy, while not joining offensive US-Israeli strikes.
- International legal experts agree Iran had a right to self-defence following US-Israeli attacks but argue Iran’s missile strikes on Gulf states were disproportionate and unlawful, thus giving Gulf states a right to self-defence and to request UK assistance.
