The United Kingdom has authorized the United States to use British military bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant escalation in Britain’s indirect involvement in the ongoing war with Iran.
Downing Street confirmed the decision Friday evening following a ministerial meeting. While the UK will not directly participate in the strikes, the agreement allows American forces to expand operations from British soil to protect commercial and military vessels in the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, handles approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply. Iranian forces have effectively blockaded the strait since the U.S.-led offensive against Iran began Feb. 28, using missile and drone attacks to target ships in the vital shipping lane.
A Downing Street spokesperson said ministers agreed that British bases could now be used for “US defensive operations” targeting “capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The decision expands on earlier permissions that allowed US forces to use British bases for operations aimed at preventing Iranian missile strikes that directly threatened British interests or lives.
“Ministers underlined the need for urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war,” the spokesperson added, striking a careful balance between supporting the US alliance and maintaining diplomatic distance from the conflict itself.
The move comes just hours after President Donald Trump publicly berated NATO allies, calling them “cowards” and dismissing the alliance as a “paper tiger” without the United States.
In a Truth Social post Friday, Trump had specifically criticized European nations for refusing to contribute militarily to securing the strait.
While the UK has now taken a concrete step to support US operations there, Downing Street was careful to frame the decision as defensive and limited in scope.
Officials emphasized that the UK’s overall approach to the conflict remains unchanged and that the government continues to press for a ceasefire.
Several other NATO allies, including France, Germany, and Italy, have so far ruled out direct military involvement in securing the strait while active combat operations continue. European leaders have expressed reluctance to be drawn into a conflict they view as primarily between the US, Israel, and Iran.
The UK’s decision places it at odds with some European partners but aligns with its longstanding “special relationship” with Washington.
Britain has historically been one of America’s most reliable military allies, participating in US-led operations from Iraq and Afghanistan to the 2018 strikes on Syrian chemical weapons sites.
The war with Iran, now in its fourth week, began February 28 when the US and Israel launched a joint offensive.
Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes across the Gulf region, targeting infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The conflict has killed an estimated 1,300 people.
British officials declined to specify which bases would be used for the expanded operations, citing operational security.
The UK hosts several US military installations, including RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, as well as RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which has previously been used for US bomber operations.
The decision is likely to face scrutiny in Parliament, where some lawmakers have expressed concern about the UK being drawn deeper into the conflict without a formal vote.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has called for any escalation of British involvement to be subject to parliamentary approval.
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