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According to BBC reports, the UK government has not granted permission for the United States to utilize British military bases in preparation for potential strikes on Iran. This information comes amid ongoing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and increasing US military posturing in the region. Historically, the US has made use of RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire as well as the overseas UK territory Diego Garcia, located in the Indian Ocean, for operations in the Middle East.
A UK government spokesperson declined to discuss operational details, stating, “As routine, we do not comment on operational matters.” Despite this, it is clear that the US has been escalating pressure on Iran to limit its nuclear ambitions, moving naval vessels, aircraft, and other forces into strategic positions. Concurrently, diplomatic negotiations between American and Iranian representatives in Switzerland have reportedly shown some progress. The UK has expressed support for these talks, emphasizing the importance of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons to safeguard regional security.
The political dimension of the situation includes communications between UK opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer and former US President Donald Trump. The Times reported that following Trump’s official backing of a deal concerning the Chagos Archipelago, the two leaders discussed the nuclear issue involving Iran. Insiders have suggested that US military planning for strikes possibly launched from Diego Garcia may have influenced Trump’s views on the island’s strategic role. Trump himself addressed this on his social media platform, urging that if Iran does not negotiate, the US might need to employ Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford to neutralize threats from what he described as “a highly unstable and dangerous regime.”
It should be noted that neither Diego Garcia nor RAF Fairford were involved in the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last year. At that time, a senior UK defense official confirmed that Washington had not sought permission to use these bases. The last known use of these UK bases by the US was during a military operation earlier this year to seize the tanker Bella 1, an action conducted with full UK government consent and justified under international law. Any future use of UK military bases by the US would be governed by longstanding agreements requiring prior UK approval, with UK officials also having to consider the implications of international legal responsibilities related to supporting military actions.
Domestically, the situation has sparked political debate within the UK. When asked earlier in the year whether he backed potential US strikes, Sir Keir Starmer responded that he was in discussion with allies about strategies to prevent Iran’s nuclear development and address its internal repression of protesters, describing the latter as “grotesque.” Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticized Donald Trump’s approach, accusing him of attempting to pressure the UK government into allowing US forces to use bases like Diego Garcia unilaterally. Davey urged Starmer to stand firm and ensure that any decision involving UK bases and US military use is subject to a parliamentary vote
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