Prime Minister Keir Starmer has denied the U.S. permission to use British airbases for a potential strike on Iran due to legal concerns, a decision that has prompted President Trump to turn against the U.K.’s plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has blocked a request from the Trump administration to use the United Kingdom’s military bases for a potential preemptive strike against Iran, citing significant concerns that such action would violate international law. According to multiple media reports, President Trump sought access to the facilities at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, the primary European hub for U.S. heavy bombers as he escalates military pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program. The refusal has reportedly triggered a diplomatic rift, prompting Trump to withdraw his support for a 2025 agreement that would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a deal he recently labeled on Truth Social as a “big mistake.”
While the U.S. State Department officially reiterated its backing for the Chagos deal on Tuesday, Trump warned that relinquishing control of the archipelago would be a “blight on our Great Ally” and argued that access to the bases is essential to “eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime.” Former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus echoed these strategic concerns on Friday, describing the U.K.’s refusal as “very disappointing” given the current geopolitical climate and Iran’s “nefarious action” across the region.