UK Approves US Use of Bases for Strikes on Iranian Sites
The United Kingdom has authorized the United States to utilize British military bases to conduct strikes against Iranian sites that threaten the Strait of Hormuz.
Previously, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had restricted US forces' use of these bases to defensive operations aimed at preventing Iranian missile attacks that could endanger British interests or lives.
On Friday, Downing Street announced that ministers had agreed to broaden the scope of permissible targets to include the protection of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping route.
The UK government emphasized that it will not participate directly in the strikes, with Downing Street stating
"the principles behind the UK's approach to the conflict remain the same".
Political Reactions to the Decision
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described the decision as the
"mother of all U-turns"in a post on the social media platform X.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski expressed concern, calling it
"another worrying escalation"and urged that Members of Parliament be given a vote regarding the UK's involvement.
UK Bases and US Military Involvement
The US has been using UK bases including RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for military operations.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies as
"cowards"for declining to provide warships to reopen the shipping channel. He asserted that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be a
"simple" military task with "little risk".
UK military planners have collaborated with the US Central Command to explore options for safely escorting tankers through the strait, which has been effectively closed due to threats of Iranian attacks in retaliation for the US-Israeli bombing campaign.
Downing Street Statement on Ministerial Discussions
A Downing Street spokesperson commented on the ministers' discussions held on Friday:
"They agreed that Iran's reckless strikes, including on Red Ensign vessels and those of our close allies and Gulf partners, risked pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the economic impact being felt in the UK and around the world.
They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz."
Downing Street also noted that ministers seek
"urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war".
Iran's Response and Diplomatic Exchanges
The expansion of the UK’s permission comes after Iran's foreign minister warned that the UK’s decision to allow the US use of British bases constitutes
"participation in aggression".
In his account of a call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi stated that he had criticized the UK’s
"negative and biased"stance and demanded that it cease cooperation with the United States.
The Foreign Office reported that Cooper condemned Iran’s
"reckless attacks"and its
"disruption and closure of the Strait of Hormuz".
A spokesperson added that Cooper had called for
"an immediate comprehensive moratorium on all attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations".
