Britain has refused to allow the United States to use its military bases for a potential strike against Iran. According to a report published in the UK’s The Telegraph, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has rejected the US request to allow American forces to use British Royal Air Force bases for a possible attack on Iran. The US administration had asked Britain to allow the use of its bases as part of a possible aerial assault on Iran, but the British government denied the request due to legal concerns.
The British government’s lawyers have warned that if the US were to carry out an attack on Iran from British bases, Britain could be held liable for violating international law. According to a UN resolution, if a country has knowledge of “illegitimate actions” and is involved in them, it can be held responsible.
Lord Harmer, the UK’s Attorney General, had earlier advised that Britain’s role in any pre-emptive strike against Iran would be illegal, except in cases where it was defending its own assets or those of its allies. The US has been preparing for a large-scale military deployment in the region, which would be the largest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In response to the British government’s statement, US President Donald Trump said that such agreements do not apply to countries. The US administration has specifically mentioned Diego Garcia, a British-controlled island that is leased to the US, but requires only notification, not permission, for use.
The British government has recently signed an agreement that will transfer the Chagossian islands, including Diego Garcia, to the British Crown and lease the base to the US for 99 years. The Telegraph has reported that the UK will not participate in any “pre-emptive strike.”
The UK’s Ministry of Defense has deployed additional fighter jets to the region to defend British and allied assets in the event of a retaliatory strike by Iran. The US state of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, to force the company to take additional measures to protect children and minors on its websites.
The Abu Dhabi real estate market has seen a record surge in 2025, according to data released by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Center.
