UK reportedly blocks Trump using British RAF bases for Iran strike

A fresh transatlantic clash is brewing after the UK reportedly blocked President Donald Trump from using British military bases for potential strikes on Iran — citing fears the action could breach international law.

According to reports, the White House is weighing options that would involve RAF Fairford in England and the joint UK–US base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands. Both sites are critical forward hubs for American long-range bombers operating across the Middle East and Asia.

Trump allegedly raised the issue directly with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a call this week. British officials, however, are said to be wary of granting permission for offensive strikes on Iran without clear legal cover.

The president responded publicly, warning that if Tehran refuses a nuclear deal, the United States “may” need to use Diego Garcia and Fairford to neutralize what he called a “highly unstable and dangerous regime.”

The dispute has quickly spilled into another sensitive area: the UK’s proposed deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease.

Trump had initially signaled support for the arrangement. But following his reported conversation with Starmer, he abruptly withdrew backing, arguing Britain should not “lose control” of such a strategically vital asset under what he described as a “tenuous” long-term lease.

Diego Garcia — located roughly 1,500 miles south of India — is one of Washington’s most important overseas military outposts, giving the US rapid reach into the Middle East and South Asia.

Starmer now faces mounting political pressure at home. The Chagos agreement was already contentious, and Trump’s intervention raises the stakes further as Parliament considers the deal.

The episode underscores growing strains in the US-UK alliance over Iran policy, international law, and the future control of one of the West’s most strategically significant island chains.

Key Takeaways

• UK blocks base use: Britain is reportedly resisting US plans to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for potential Iran strikes over legal concerns.

• Trump retaliates politically: The president reversed support for the UK’s Chagos Islands deal after the reported dispute.

• Strategic stakes high: Diego Garcia remains a critical US military hub for operations across the Middle East and Asia.

SOURCE: NEW YORK POST

If true, good to see countries standing up to Trump.

4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

If true, good to see countries standing up to Trump.

Not standing up, just afraid of Iranian retaliation. Also, Starmer needs to keep the support of his muslim and radical leftist party members or else he is gone.

4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

If true, good to see countries standing up to Trump.

Indeed. Let the Mullah's continue they're tyranny. Stamer's an idiot. Reality is the US can hit Iran and hit very, very hard without using one of it's staunchest allies airbases. Another of it's staunches allies, Israel, will have no problems with this and like Operation Midnight Hammer will be there taking out defensive sites.

1 minute ago, Patong2021 said:

Not standing up, just afraid of Iranian retaliation. Also, Starmer needs to keep the support of his muslim and radical leftist party members or else he is gone.

Agree but he's basically already gone. The end of woke progressivist parties in England is nigh.

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Indeed. Let the Mullah's continue they're tyranny. Stamer's an idiot. Reality is the US can hit Iran and hit very, very hard without using one of it's staunchest allies airbases. Another of it's staunches allies, Israel, will have no problems with this and like Operation Midnight Hammer will be there taking out defensive sites.

The UK has a sordid history of joining illegal wars with the U.S.

Starmer is wise not to have any part in a war Trump wishes to drag the UK into.

It's not going to be an all out war. It's going to be conducted by air and sea and won't last long. IMO it's going to happen any day now.

Starmer like Haold Wilson before has at last shown some balls. Wilson lest we forget stayed out of the Vitenam War and what a brilliant strategic decision that was. The UK is an island with nukes we should stay out of all wars and use our armed forces to only defend the homeland. Let the rest of the world sort out their own problems and become a sort of 21st Century island Switzerland.

15 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The UK has a sordid history of joining illegal wars with the U.S.

Starmer is wise not to have any part in a war Trump wishes to drag the UK into.

So you are in favour of allowing Iran to mass murder and torture non combatants? What was it, 40,000 dead in a month with the slaughter continuing? And are you in favour of Iran continuing with its nuclear weapon program. especially after it said it would use it on western nations? Are you also in favour of Iran's funding and arming shia militias in Iraq, Lebanon and supporting the Houthi's in the Yemen civil war?

13 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Starmer like Haold Wilson before has at last shown some balls. Wilson lest we forget stayed out of the Vitenam War and what a brilliant strategic decision that was. The UK is an island with nukes we should stay out of all wars and use our armed forces to only defend the homeland. Let the rest of the world sort out their own problems and become a sort of 21st Century island Switzerland.

He is not showing "balls". He is afraid of the Iran and its supporters disposing of him and going kaboom in the streets of the UK. Starmer is too busy directing his police to harass old people who wear stars of David or who object to the islamification of local schools and communities.

Just now, Patong2021 said:

He is not showing "balls". He is afraid of the Iran and its supporters disposing of him and going kaboom in the streets of the UK. Starmer is too busy directing his police to harass old people who wear stars of David or who object to the islamification of local schools and communities.

I'm firmly in the no wars for Israel camp who since therir birth have been the main source of instability in the Middle East with their mass displacement of 100s of thousands of Palestinians. I suggest you direct your ire at them.

2 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Err we have statute and common law going back centuries not sharia law - nice try though !

True enough but there's more and more Sharia councils popping up in the UK.

1 minute ago, dinsdale said:

True enough but there's more and more Sharia councils popping up in the UK.

Do you care about Beth Din courts ?

https://www.bethdin.org.uk/

Just now, beautifulthailand99 said:

I'm firmly in the no wars for Israel camp who since therir birth have been the main source of instability in the Middle East with their mass displacement of 100s of thousands of Palestinians. I suggest you direct your ire at them.

This is not a war for Israel. Don't tie Palestinians to this.

Iran is the country which killed 40,000 non combatants in one month and which is pulling people from hospital beds and torturing them. It is Iran which is executing people and sending their families an invoice for the bullets and costs that must be paid before the families can claim the deceased.

Iran is the country threatening to send nuclear missiles against multiple countries.

Iran is the country which has funded international terrorism.

Iran is the backer of the Houthis and has continued the civil war in Yemen. 300,000 dead, millions displaced and at risk of starvation.

Iran armed and backed Assad of Syria. 14 million refugees, destruction of a country, 750,000 dead.

Iran has armed and financed Hezbollah, a shiite radical group which refuses to allow Lebanon to be in peace and which served as a proxy army for Assad in Syria.

Iran has armed and financed Sshiite militias in Iraq and which will not allow Iraq to rebuild a civil society.

Iran has armed and partially financed Hamas, which started a war with Israel.

Iran has participated in the ethnic cleansing of Kurds

Iran has supported the radical terrorist Muslim Brotherhood in egypt.

Iran has sought to undermine the UAE and KSA governments.

Iran has threatened shipping in the Gulf of Hormuz.

Israel has not done any of the above. It is all Iran. However, that will not keep you from blaming israel, because your world is based upon blaming Israel for anything that you do not like.

30 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The UK has a sordid history of joining illegal wars with the U.S.

Starmer is wise not to have any part in a war Trump wishes to drag the UK into.

Blair lied about WMD to start an illegal war with Bush.

Now there's real justification for action, Starmer bottles it.

Like most leftists, always on the wrong side of any situation. At least it won't upset the "community leaders" that manage Starmer though.

3 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

This is not a war for Israel. Don't tie Palestinians to this.

Iran is the country which killed 40,000 non combatants in one month and which is pulling people from hospital beds and torturing them. It is Iran which is executing people and sending their families an invoice for the bullets and costs that must be paid before the families can claim the deceased.

Iran is the country threatening to send nuclear missiles against multiple countries.

Iran is the country which has funded international terrorism.

Iran is the backer of the Houthis and has continued the civil war in Yemen. 300,000 dead, millions displaced and at risk of starvation.

Iran armed and backed Assad of Syria. 14 million refugees, destruction of a country, 750,000 dead.

Iran has armed and financed Hezbollah, a shiite radical group which refuses to allow Lebanon to be in peace and which served as a proxy army for Assad in Syria.

Iran has armed and financed Sshiite militias in Iraq and which will not allow Iraq to rebuild a civil society.

Iran has armed and partially financed Hamas, which started a war with Israel.

Iran has participated in the ethnic cleansing of Kurds

Iran has supported the radical terrorist Muslim Brotherhood in egypt.

Iran has sought to undermine the UAE and KSA governments.

Iran has threatened shipping in the Gulf of Hormuz.

Israel has not done any of the above. It is all Iran. However, that will not keep you from blaming israel, because your world is based upon blaming Israel for anything that you do not like.

Shhh! Facts aren't something the virtue signalers are very good at taking. The insane radical Islamist Mullahs need to go and Starmer should be onboard with this.

6 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

This is not a war for Israel. Don't tie Palestinians to this.

Iran is the country which killed 40,000 non combatants in one month and which is pulling people from hospital beds and torturing them. It is Iran which is executing people and sending their families an invoice for the bullets and costs that must be paid before the families can claim the deceased.

Iran is the country threatening to send nuclear missiles against multiple countries.

Iran is the country which has funded international terrorism.

Iran is the backer of the Houthis and has continued the civil war in Yemen. 300,000 dead, millions displaced and at risk of starvation.

Iran armed and backed Assad of Syria. 14 million refugees, destruction of a country, 750,000 dead.

Iran has armed and financed Hezbollah, a shiite radical group which refuses to allow Lebanon to be in peace and which served as a proxy army for Assad in Syria.

Iran has armed and financed Sshiite militias in Iraq and which will not allow Iraq to rebuild a civil society.

Iran has armed and partially financed Hamas, which started a war with Israel.

Iran has participated in the ethnic cleansing of Kurds

Iran has supported the radical terrorist Muslim Brotherhood in egypt.

Iran has sought to undermine the UAE and KSA governments.

Iran has threatened shipping in the Gulf of Hormuz.

Israel has not done any of the above. It is all Iran. However, that will not keep you from blaming israel, because your world is based upon blaming Israel for anything that you do not like.

Here we go again interfering in the Middle East under the guise of 'righting wrongs.' My substantive point remains: the UK needs to stay out of foreign adventures, especially in the Middle East. Have we learned nothing from the last 20 years? Israel has been in a cycle of conflict with its neighbours since its inception, and UK meddling hasn't changed that.

If we are in 'save the world' mode, why is the Congo ignored? Six million are dead there, yet it doesn't get a fraction of the 'credence' or intervention we see elsewhere. If we aren't prepared to focus on the world's deadliest humanitarian crises, we should have the humility to stay out of the ones we clearly don't understand. Of course the regime in Iran is repulsive nut it's not the UK's probelme as much as US/Isarel wished it were.

Hail Starmer for keeping out of it. That said he will be helping as much as he can behind the scenes . That's a given. Oh and we sold weapons and gas to Saddam whilst he was fighting Iran which left over a million dead so quit the moralising lectures please

8 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Starmer like Haold Wilson before has at last shown some balls. Wilson lest we forget stayed out of the Vitenam War and what a brilliant strategic decision that was. The UK is an island with nukes we should stay out of all wars and use our armed forces to only defend the homeland. Let the rest of the world sort out their own problems and become a sort of 21st Century island Switzerland.

"Wilson lest we forget stayed out of the Vitenam War..."

Yes but they did send a number of army officers to wrk longside Australian field officers to gain experience (at that time the UK had close to zero officers who had war / operational experience).

One UK army captain was assigned to work with my company in VN. I (and a section of my men) picked him up at Ton Son Ut (Saigon) airport. I quickly greeted him then tried to give him an armalite rifle (hih he never seen before and had not read the literature on this rifle that had been sent to him well in advance. He refused to take the rifle and ignored me and spoke to one of my men asking 'Is there a PX store near your unit?'

I responded 'not important right now and sir please listen to my instructions re the armalite rifle'. Again he refused to listen.

We drove about 1hr 15min to our company set up within the massive Vung Tau very secure compound. On arrival I asked him to acompany me to meet our CO (a colonel), his response 'I want to sleep, where's my room?' (He didn't realize our colonel Co was behind him and had heard his coments.)

I tried again 'Please sir first let me famiiarize you with the armalite rifle'. He then abused me.

My CO then stepped forward and scoldedthe UK captain with 'don't speak to any of my men, any rank like that'.

Our CO then said 'in my room now and the CO instructed me to join them.

Our CO said 'for the full 2 weeks you ar hre you wil spend 24 hrs a day with the perimeer guard, change the guard every 2 hrs and not leave that area and you will be given ration packs for your food. The CO then politely instructed me to make a detailed order re all of the above.

I did that quickly our CO signed it, the UK captain refused to sign.

Our CO then instructed me to make a full report of the UK captain's beligerence and refusal to listen to be sent my registered mail to the appropriate people in he UK. Plus the CO said, to me, mention everything in the report, don't hold back, and add signature blocks for all the members of my team to sign to confirm the details.

Our CO then told the captain, put 2 changes of clothes in this bag and we will immediately take you, with ration packs to the security supervisors post on the perimiter wire. On arrival there (5 minutes drive) our CO spoke to the all the corporals on guard dutyteling them 'don't set up any form of room for he UK captain, he can sleep with all the men in the party waiting heir turn to take their 2 hr shift.

The detailed report went to the UK by post 2 days later and a copy was given (in a sealed envelope to the UK captain and a copy sent through the military polic system to the commanding officer (an Aussie army general) in the united Nations joint compound in Saigon.

So the justification---that would make a candidate who ran on a platform of "We will no longer be the world's policeman" toss it out---is what?

Killing non-combatants? How many non-combatants were killed in Gaza ? Is it okay is done more slowly?

How about the regular and systematic abuse of females in Saudi Arabia, as well as a punishment of public beheading for the practice of Christianity? No problem, if Trump can gain approval for an RE project.

Long ago there was The War of Jenkin's Ear. This will be the War of the Epstein Files. Distraction.

Hey, look over here ! We're blowing up boats in the Caribbean and "running" Venezuela. Well, not any more. That was yesterday's distraction. Like Greenland. So now the distraction will be Iran.

Oh, and there was a perfectly good nuclear deal when Trump took over in 2017. 100% took Iran out of the nuke game. But the guy who lives rent free in Trump's head had arranged that deal.

Does anyone think the Trump Administration has a plan for after a strike? What if infrastructure in knocked out and innocent people suffer? Does anybody think Trump really cares? Anybody think Trump really cares about Moslem Iranians? Trump cares less about them as he does sexually abused girls. Trump certainly doesn't give a thought for dead Gazans, so only fools think he cares about dead Iranian Moslems.

I wonder if anyone has told Trump that Iran is in the Top Five of nations with cyberhacking ability? During Trump 1.0, the Iranians hacked a US drone, landed it, and sent it to China for reverse engineering.

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

"Wilson lest we forget stayed out of the Vitenam War..."

Yes but they did send a number of army officers to wrk longside Australian field officers to gain experience (at that time the UK had close to zero officers who had war / operational experience).

One UK army captain was assigned to work with my company in VN. I (and a section of my men) picked him up at Ton Son Ut (Saigon) airport. I quickly greeted him then tried to give him an armalite rifle (hih he never seen before and had not read the literature on this rifle that had been sent to him well in advance. He refused to take the rifle and ignored me and spoke to one of my men asking 'Is there a PX store near your unit?'

I responded 'not important right now and sir please listen to my instructions re the armalite rifle'. Again he refused to listen.

We drove about 1hr 15min to our company set up within the massive Vung Tau very secure compound. On arrival I asked him to acompany me to meet our CO (a colonel), his response 'I want to sleep, where's my room?' (He didn't realize our colonel Co was behind him and had heard his coments.)

I tried again 'Please sir first let me famiiarize you with the armalite rifle'. He then abused me.

My CO then stepped forward and scoldedthe UK captain with 'don't speak to any of my men, any rank like that'.

Our CO then said 'in my room now and the CO instructed me to join them.

Our CO said 'for the full 2 weeks you ar hre you wil spend 24 hrs a day with the perimeer guard, change the guard every 2 hrs and not leave that area and you will be given ration packs for your food. The CO then politely instructed me to make a detailed order re all of the above.

I did that quickly our CO signed it, the UK captain refused to sign.

Our CO then instructed me to make a full report of the UK captain's beligerence and refusal to listen to be sent my registered mail to the appropriate people in he UK. Plus the CO said, to me, mention everything in the report, don't hold back, and add signature blocks for all the members of my team to sign to confirm the details.

Our CO then told the captain, put 2 changes of clothes in this bag and we will immediately take you, with ration packs to the security supervisors post on the perimiter wire. On arrival there (5 minutes drive) our CO spoke to the all the corporals on guard dutyteling them 'don't set up any form of room for he UK captain, he can sleep with all the men in the party waiting heir turn to take their 2 hr shift.

The detailed report went to the UK by post 2 days later and a copy was given (in a sealed envelope to the UK captain and a copy sent through the military polic system to the commanding officer (an Aussie army general) in the united Nations joint compound in Saigon.

Very interesting thanks for sharing your personal insights; you must have some incredible stories to tell. It’s clear that a huge portion of the UK’s military diplomatic service is still populated by 'chinless wonders' who have risen to rank through nothing but the right school tie. They get dumped into foreign postings where they can cause absolute havoc while pretending to represent the homeland It sounds like you had the misfortune of dealing with exactly one of those types.

In more peaceful time the military attache to Bangkok a Colonel went berserk on a plane !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4628312.stm

2 minutes ago, Wingate said:

So the justification---that would make a candidate who ran on a platform of "We will no longer be the world's policeman" toss it out---is what?

Killing non-combatants? How many non-combatants were killed in Gaza ? Is it okay is done more slowly?

How about the regular and systematic abuse of females in Saudi Arabia, as well as a punishment of public beheading for the practice of Christianity? No problem, if Trump can gain approval for an RE project.

Long ago there was The War of Jenkin's Ear. This will be the War of the Epstein Files. Distraction.

Hey, look over here ! We're blowing up boats in the Caribbean and "running" Venezuela. Well, not any more. That was yesterday's distraction. Like Greenland. So now the distraction will be Iran.

Oh, and there was a perfectly good nuclear deal when Trump took over in 2017. 100% took Iran out of the nuke game. But the guy who lives rent free in Trump's head had arranged that deal.

Does anyone think the Trump Administration has a plan for after a strike? What if infrastructure in knocked out and innocent people suffer? Does anybody think Trump really cares? Anybody think Trump really cares about Moslem Iranians? Trump cares less about them as he does sexually abused girls. Trump certainly doesn't give a thought for dead Gazans, so only fools think he cares about dead Iranian Moslems.

I wonder if anyone has told Trump that Iran is in the Top Five of nations with cyberhacking ability? During Trump 1.0, the Iranians hacked a US drone, landed it, and sent it to China for reverse engineering.

Pesky facts about the Chairman of the Borat of Peace - drunk on Arab gold showered into his MacDonald's stuffed mouth. Plans ! There is not a single practising Jew in Saudi - it's illegal, in Iran there are 9k and numerous synagoues and a Chief Rabbi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehuda_Gerami

39 minutes ago, scorecard said:

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

"Wilson lest we forget stayed out of the Vitenam War..."

45 minutes ago, scorecard said:

"Wilson lest we forget stayed out of the Vitenam War..."

Yes but they did send a number of army officers to wrk longside Australian field officers to gain experience (at that time the UK had close to zero officers who had war / operational experience).

One UK army captain was assigned to work with my company in VN. I (and a section of my men) picked him up at Ton Son Nut (Saigon) airport. I quickly greeted him then tried to give him an Armalite rifle (which he had never seen before and he had not read the army literature on this rifle that had been sent to him well in advance. He refused to take the rifle and ignored me and spoke to one of my men asking 'Is there a PX store near your unit?'

I responded 'not important right now and sir please listen to my instructions re the armalite rifle'. Again he refused to listen.

We drove about 1hr 15min on the open road to our company set up within the massive Vung Tau very secure compound. On arrival I asked him to acompany me to meet our CO (a colonel), his response 'I want to sleep, where's my room?' (He didn't realize our colonel COwas behind him and had heard his comments.)

I tried again 'Please sir first let me famiiarize you with the armalite rifle'. He then abused me for my rudeness.

My CO then quickly stepped forward and loudly scolded the UK captain with 'don't speak to any of my men, any rank like that'.

Our CO then said 'in my room now and the CO instructed me to join them.

Our CO said 'for the full 2 weeks you are here you wil spend 24 hrs a day with the perimeter guard, change the guard every 2 hrs and not leave that area and you will be given ration packs for your food. The CO then politely instructed me to make a detailed order re all of the above.

I did that quickly our CO signed it, the UK captain refused to sign.

Our CO then instructed me to make a full report of the UK captain's beligerence and refusal to listen, to be sent my registered mail to the appropriate UK army people in the UK. Plus the CO said, to me, mention everything in the report, don't hold back, and add signature blocks for all the members of my team to sign to confirm the details.

Our CO then told the captain, put 2 changes of clothes in this bag and we will immediately take you, with ration packs to the security supervisors post on the perimiter wire. On arrival there (5 minutes drive) our CO spoke to the all the corporals on guard duty / waiting for guard change telling them 'don't set up any form of room for bed for the UK captain, he can sleep with all the men in the party waiting their turn to take their 2 hr shift.

The detailed report went to the UK by registered post 2 days later and a copy was given (in a sealed envelope) to the UK captain and a copy sent through the military police system in country to the commanding officer (an Aussie army general) in the united Nations joint compound in Saigon.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

with Sharia law?

Oh dear, you got triggered again.

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

So you are in favour of allowing Iran to mass murder and torture non combatants? What was it, 40,000 dead in a month with the slaughter continuing? And are you in favour of Iran continuing with its nuclear weapon program. especially after it said it would use it on western nations? Are you also in favour of Iran's funding and arming shia militias in Iraq, Lebanon and supporting the Houthi's in the Yemen civil war?

You’ve presented yet another one of your non sequitur.

I was not in favor of Trump unilaterally pulling the U.S. out of the nuclear weapons treaty with Iran.

I’m not in favor of any nation arming and funding any military groups in the Middle East.

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Blair lied about WMD to start an illegal war with Bush.

Now there's real justification for action, Starmer bottles it.

Like most leftists, always on the wrong side of any situation. At least it won't upset the "community leaders" that manage Starmer though.

The UK is not at war with Iran, Iran is not at war with the UK, Iran is not threatening the UK.

Starmer is right to keep the UK out of yet another illegal U.S. war.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

more and more Sharia councils popping up in the UK.

Any hands cut off? Any stonings in the UK? All the bad things about Sharia that people worry about don't happen. They can't even divorce without British law agreeing.

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The UK is not at war with Iran, Iran is not at war with the UK, Iran is not threatening the UK.

Didn't stop your hero Blair though, did it?

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Starmer is right to keep the UK out of yet another illegal U.S. war.

I seem to recall you were supportive of him sticking his nose into the Russia/Ukraine conflict though. More hypocrisy.

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Didn't stop your hero Blair though, did it?

I seem to recall you were supportive of him sticking his nose into the Russia/Ukraine conflict though. More hypocrisy.

Blair is not my hero, and I did not support him joining the illegal war in Iraq.

Russia is an enemy that has attacked the UK and is a threat to the UK.

1 hour ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Very interesting thanks for sharing your personal insights; you must have some incredible stories to tell. It’s clear that a huge portion of the UK’s military diplomatic service is still populated by 'chinless wonders' who have risen to rank through nothing but the right school tie. They get dumped into foreign postings where they can cause absolute havoc while pretending to represent the homeland It sounds like you had the misfortune of dealing with exactly one of those types.

In more peaceful time the military attache to Bangkok a Colonel went berserk on a plane !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4628312.stm

Don't tease us like that. Was this fellow found guilty or not guilty?

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Blair is not my hero, and I did not support him joining the illegal war in Iraq.

Russia is an enemy that has attacked the UK and is a threat to the UK.

When did Russia attack the UK?