Amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer blocked US President Donald Trump from using British airbases for potential strike on Iran.
Relations between Washington and Tehran remained severely strained, with Iran holding back from signing a pact to curb the expansion of its nuclear programme.
According to a report by The Telegraph, the US President was believed to have withdrawn his support for Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal over the government’s refusal to give consent for the US to use UK military bases to launch bombing runs.
Washington is believed to have drafted plans for a potential direct attack on Iran, deploying strategic long-range bombing and refuelling aircraft sent to the Middle East in recent days. According to the Telegraph report, defence authorities briefed Trump that US forces could be prepared to act by Saturday – marking the most significant military mobilisation in the region since the 2003 Iraq war.
In the event of a US attack on Iran, operations would probably be launched from the Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands, which Britain plans to transfer to Mauritius, along with air bases across Europe in partner countries. The US can use Diego Garcia without consent, but needs the UK’s clearance to access RAF facilities.
On Wednesday, Trump told the UK to “remain strong in the face of wokeism” and not to “give away” the Chagos Islands. Posting on Truth Social, the US president said: “Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime.”
The comments by Donald Trump were interpreted as a reference to Washington’s request to use RAF Fairford for long-range bombing operations. The base in Gloucestershire has previously accommodated US Air Force personnel.
The UK, however, had withheld consent after government lawyers reportedly warned -- in a report first carried by The Times -- that taking part in such strikes might breach international law.
Officials indicated that Britain was unlikely to endorse a pre-emptive strike on Iran, consistent with its earlier refusal to participate in the US action against Iranian nuclear sites last summer.
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