The United Kingdom will not allow the Pentagon to use British-controlled bases to launch potential military strikes against Iran, according to a report by The Times of London.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has reportedly informed Washington that U.S. forces may not conduct air missions against Iran from Diego Garcia — the joint U.S.-U.K. base in the Indian Ocean — or from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which hosts America’s B-52 bomber force in Europe.
Under longstanding defense agreements, British approval is required before such bases can be used for offensive military operations. British officials are said to be concerned that permitting their use in strikes against Iran could violate international law, particularly if London were deemed to have “knowledge” of a potentially unlawful act.
The decision comes amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East under President Donald Trump, as tensions with Tehran escalate over its nuclear program.
The dispute has also complicated negotiations over Britain’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius — a deal that includes Diego Garcia. President Trump publicly criticized the proposal, warning that surrendering control of the strategically vital base would weaken Western security.
“Leases are no good when it comes to countries,” Trump wrote on social media, urging London not to give up Diego Garcia and emphasizing that the United States stands ready to defend the United Kingdom against threats from what he described as a “highly unstable and dangerous regime.”
The standoff underscores growing transatlantic tensions as Washington weighs its options against Iran while London seeks to balance alliance commitments with legal and diplomatic concerns.
