The United Kingdom has approved U.S. use of British military bases to strike Iranian missile sites that have targeted ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a U.K. government spokesperson confirmed Friday. The move follows a meeting of British ministers to discuss Iran’s attacks on vessels and energy infrastructure, as well as its ongoing blockade of the strategic waterway.
The U.K. said the arrangement allows the U.S. to conduct defensive operations aimed at degrading Iranian missile capabilities threatening commercial shipping, while reaffirming that Britain remains committed to international law and will not become involved in a broader conflict. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had initially blocked U.S. requests for base access but reversed course after Iran launched retaliatory strikes, permitting the use of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford. The decision, described by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch as a “mother of all U-turns,” comes amid renewed pressure from President Trump for European allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
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