USA to Eliminate Threats to Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from British Bases — London Has Given Permission

The United Kingdom has allowed the United States to use its air bases to strike Iranian targets linked to attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

The BBC reported on this.

Prior to this, on March 1, the day after the US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran, US forces were authorized to use the Royal Air Force bases at Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for “defensive” strikes.

These strikes were intended to target Iranian facilities that had carried out attacks on British personnel and allies in the region.

At the same time, the government emphasized that the UK would not take direct part in the strikes, stating that “the UK’s approach to the conflict remains unchanged,” and underscored the need for “urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war.”

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the UK’s decision to use its bases was a “very belated reaction.”

“I was, frankly, a little surprised by the UK—they should have acted much faster,” he said.

In turn, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of “putting the British people in danger” by allowing the use of bases for strikes on Iranian targets.

He also threatened that Iran would “exercise its right to self-defense.” Meanwhile, as early as March 1, Iran fired two missiles toward British military bases in Cyprus for the first time.

The following day, an Iranian Shahed-136 drone struck the British Akrotiri Air Base in Cyprus, causing minor damage to the airfield; no personnel at the base were injured.

The British Air Force is engaged in defense missions in the airspace of the Middle East, specifically in intercepting drones and cruise missiles attacking allied countries or British military bases, and does not participate in U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran.

Specifically, the UK has deployed four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar as part of the joint British-Qatari 12th Squadron under the countries’ defense guarantees, and plans to deploy four more.