UK Denies US Request for Bases in Iran Strikes

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has denied a request from U.S. President Donald Trump to use key British air bases for potential strikes on Iran, citing concerns that such actions could violate international law. The decision, reported by multiple British media outlets based on government sources, involves RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, and Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-U.K. facility in the Indian Ocean's Chagos Islands.

The bases serve as vital staging points for U.S. military operations, particularly for heavy bombers like the B-2, B-1, and B-52. RAF Fairford acts as a forward operating base for U.S. strategic bombers in Europe, while Diego Garcia supports long-range missions in the Middle East and beyond. U.K. officials worry that permitting their use in an attack on Iran would implicate Britain in any internationally wrongful act, as international law holds supporting states accountable if they are aware of the circumstances. Requests for access to U.K. bases are evaluated case by case under longstanding agreements, considering legal and policy factors, according to a January statement from Veterans Minister Al Carns.

The refusal follows a Tuesday phone call...