Iran’s exiled crown prince has pleaded for Britain to support US military intervention after reports that Sir Keir Starmer is obstructing Donald Trump from using UK bases for any attack.
Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, told Metro the Iranian people wanted military motion as the USA amassed an enormous naval and air force within the Middle East.
Sir Keir has reportedly refused to permit American planes UK bases at Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to hit Iran.
Pahlavi also called on the British Government to proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation amid a state crackdown on protestors.
The opposition leader, 65, has turn out to be the face of nationwide demonstrations against the clerical regime inside Iran, with hundreds of individuals chanting his name and waving the flag of his father.
He has long urged the US President to make good on his promise that ‘assistance is on its way’ while the US builds up its an enormous ‘armada’ of military assets within the region in case nuclear talks fail to search out an agreement.
But Trump has reportedly been frustrated by the UK’s refusal to grant permission for his or her US aircraft to take off from British bases, in keeping with The Times.
Reacting to The Times’ story, Pahlavi told Metro: ‘The people of Iran want the US to militarily act.
‘This humanitarian intervention would save lives. I urge the UK government to support the US motion.’
The crown prince, who now lives within the US after fleeing his homeland through the Iranian Revolution in 1979, also claimed that the Iranian regime killed as many as 40,000 protesters through the nationwide unrest last month.
He added: ‘The killing has not stopped. Protests proceed and so they are expanding.’
The US-based organisation HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency) has verified greater than 6,000 deaths, with one other 17,000 recorded deaths under investigation.
In recent weeks, tensions between the US and Iran’s Ayatollahs have continued to deteriorate during contentious nuclear talks.
Trump has continued to threaten military motion to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The 2 sides are on account of hold more talks in Geneva this week, however the US president said during his State of the Union address last night that they hadn’t ‘heard those secret words: “We are going to never have a nuclear weapon”.’
Nonetheless, US officials were discussing the potential of successful talks last July when Trump ordered strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge has backed Pahlavi’s intervention, urging the UK to grant the US access to the bases within the case of American military strikes.
He told Metro: ‘While speculative, if the US judges that further motion is required to take care of that specific threat, and if again we consider such motion is in our national interest and to guard vital UK security interests, then we must always grant the usage of our bases if and where required, including RAF bases within the UK, and Diego Garcia.’
The South Suffolk MP added: ‘Iran’s nuclear programme has been a grave threat to Britain and our allies. That’s the reason the Conservatives supported the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last summer. Iran must not ever obtain a nuclear bomb.’
Leading anti-regime activists within the UK have celebrated Pahlavi’s call for motion.
Ellie Borhan, founding father of the Stage of Freedom activist group, told Metro: ‘Surely it’s time to take motion against the regime enabling and committing atrocities as well.
‘The Islamic Republic will not be only a threat to the Iranian people, but in addition to regional stability and the protection of the UK and British residents.
‘That is the moment for democratic nations to face on the appropriate side of history and support the Iranian people of their fight for freedom.’
Trump has previously referred to the role the UK might play in a Truth Social post, writing that ‘it could be crucial for the USA to make use of Diego Garcia, and the Airfield positioned in Fairford, so as to eradicate a possible attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime’.
A government spokesperson said they don’t comment on operational matters.
Chatting with Metro, Pahlavi also urged the British government to ‘proscribe the IRGC and seize the assets of Regime elites moving their money to London.’
Sir Keir has to date refused to proscribe the IRGC, which might make it illegal to support the group within the UK, despite the actual fact the European Union has added it to their terrorist list.
There have also been quite a few reports linking the elites near Ayotollah Ali Khamenei with London.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the supreme leader, reportedly owns luxury mansions in Britain value greater than £100 million.
Iranian businessman Ali Ansari, sanctioned by the UK for allegedly bankrolling the IRGC, has also amassed a £142 million property portfolio across London, the Times has reported.
Downing Street has at all times emphasised the sanctions they’ve placed against the IRGC, using asset freezes, travel bans and director bans.
This has included greater than 500 Iranian individuals and entities connected with the Regime.
In July 2025, the UK joined 13 other countries in condemning Iranian intelligence activities
Addressing Pahlavi’s comments on UK support for US military motion, a Government spokesperson said: ‘As routine, we don’t comment on operational matters.
‘There’s a political process ongoing between the US and Iran, which the UK supports. Iran must not ever have the option to develop a nuclear weapon, and our priority is security within the region.’
Get in contact with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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