The United Kingdom has declined a United States request to use a key British airbase for potential military strikes on Iran, highlighting legal concerns and exposing rare differences between the two close allies.
The government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not grant permission for American forces to launch offensive operations from RAF Fairford, a strategically important base near Swindon that frequently hosts US long-range bombers. Under defence agreements, Washington must obtain explicit approval from London before using UK-based facilities for combat missions, and British authorities chose not to authorise the move.
Officials in London are understood to be concerned that supporting a pre-emptive strike on Iran could breach international law. British legal policy has long maintained that the UK can be held responsible if it knowingly assists military action later deemed unlawful, making the government cautious about direct involvement.
The request came as the United States, led by President Donald Trump, increases military preparedness in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Tehran. RAF Fairford is considered a vital launch point for long-distance bomber missions and its denial limits immediate operational options from British soil.
The development has also drawn attention to Diego Garcia, the joint UK-US military facility in the Chagos Islands. While American forces can operate from Diego Garcia with prior notification, any combat use of bases located in mainland Britain requires formal political clearance.
President Trump publicly criticised the British decision and warned against reducing Western military flexibility at a time of heightened regional tensions. The disagreement comes at a sensitive moment, as London and Washington are also engaged in discussions over the future of the Chagos Islands and the continued strategic role of the base there.
