At the outset

In the lead-up to the conflict the British government withheld permission from the US to use UK military bases to support US strikes on Iran.

On 28 February, the day the US and Israel launched joint strikes against the regime, Prime Minister Keir Starmer instead said British planes were “in the sky” in the Middle East as part of a defensive operation “to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.

‘Defensive’ action only

The following day, Starmer announced the UK had given permission for the US to use its RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for “defensive” strikes.

Starmer said those strikes would target Iranian sites that were firing against UK personnel and allies in the region – but said the UK would still not join “offensive action”, and withheld permission of the US to use its bases for that purpose.

Trump said he was “not happy” with Starmer. “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” he said on 3 March.

Today’s decision

Shortly after the US president called Nato “cowards” for not doing more to help open the Strait of Hormuz, the UK government said it had approved the use of its bases for the US to launch strikes on Iranian sites targeting the strait.

“The principles behind the UK’s approach to the conflict remain the same: the UK remains committed to defending our people, our interests and our allies, acting in accordance with international law and not getting drawn into the wider conflict,” it said.

Read More: UK agrees to let US use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting Strait of Hormuz