Britain Has Not Yet Granted US Permission to Use Its Military Bases for Strikes on Iran
The British government has reportedly not yet granted permission to the United States to use its military bases in support of potential American strikes against Iran.
A report from The Times stated that the US is drawing up plans to use RAF Fairford, which serves as the home base for America’s bomber fleet in Europe.
According to The Times, US President Donald Trump reportedly spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday (17 February) about the plans. British officials are reportedly concerned that granting the United States permission to use the RAF base for military strikes could violate international law.
The US has previously used the Royal Air Force base at Fairford in Gloucestershire, and the Diego Garcia territory in the Indian Ocean, to conduct strikes in the Middle East.
The US government has been pressing Iran to agree to restrictions on its nuclear programme.
President Donald Trump has threatened possible strikes should Iran fail to do so. The US has even moved warships, aircraft, and other military assets to the Middle East region in preparation for a potential attack.
A British government spokesperson said: “There is an ongoing political process between the US and Iran, which is supported by Britain. Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, and our priority is security in the region.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: “If Iran decides not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the [RAF] Air Base location at Fairford [Gloucestershire], to eradicate potential strikes by a very unstable and dangerous regime.”
Neither RAF Fairford nor Diego Garcia was used in the US strikes carried out last year against Iranian nuclear facilities.
At the time, a senior British defence source said Washington had not requested permission.
RAF Fairford and other British military bases were recently used by the US to support military operations to seize a tanker known as Bella 1 earlier this year.
However, that operation was conducted with the full support of Britain. At the time, ministers said the operation was justified under international law.
Under a long-standing agreement, the US must first seek permission to use British military bases before conducting military operations.