UK approves expanded US base access for strikes on Iran-linked threats

2026-03-21 - 04:40

LONDON — The United Kingdom has approved an expansion of US access to British bases for operations targeting Iranian missile capabilities threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Downing Street said Friday.In a government statement, Cabinet ministers confirmed that the agreement allows US forces to use UK bases as part of the “collective self-defense of the region,” including defensive operations aimed at degrading missile sites used to attack vessels in the strategic waterway.The government stressed that its position remains unchanged, reiterating calls for urgent de-escalation and a swift end to the war.Ministers condemned Iran’s expansion of targets to include international shipping, warning that such strikes — including those on British-registered vessels and ships belonging to allies and Gulf partners — risk pushing the region deeper into crisis and worsening global economic fallout.Since the US-Israeli offensive on Iran began on Feb. 28, the UK has shifted from initially denying base access to deeper operational involvement.Prime Minister Keir Starmer said earlier this week that Britain would take necessary steps to defend itself and its allies but would not be drawn into a broader war, while continuing efforts to end the conflict.However, the UK’s expanding role has fueled growing debate over whether that distinction can be maintained as the conflict intensifies.