The UK government has declared it is ready around the clock to defend the country, following threats from Iran warning Britain would “bear responsibility” for permitting the United States to use British military bases.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the UK of “complicity in the crime of aggression and war crimes” by allowing US forces to conduct what it describes as “unlawful attacks” on Iranian targets. The Iranian MFA warned that any nation supporting military action against Iran would face consequences.
Specifically, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards singled out RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, highlighting its use by the US Air Force to launch bombing raids as justification for considering it a “legitimate target.”
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While the UK government has declined to participate directly in offensive operations against Iran, it permits the US to conduct defensive strikes from British bases hosting American personnel. This arrangement has been upheld by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who maintains the previous government’s agreement to allow US use of these facilities.
US President Donald Trump has overseen 13 consecutive nights of airstrikes against Iranian targets, with the possibility of further escalation looming. The US Central Command stated these operations aim to diminish Iran’s capacity to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels, particularly in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Amid rising tensions, the UK Ministry of Defence emphasized the readiness of British armed forces to protect the nation and its interests from any form of attack, employing a multi-layered defense strategy involving the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force with support from NATO allies.
The UK remains committed to operating within international law and avoiding direct involvement in escalating the conflict. The government recently designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat, imposing life imprisonment for acts of sabotage carried out on its behalf. This designation followed a spate of arson attacks in London and a violent stabbing incident linked to the group earlier this year.
Following the latest US strikes, Iranian state media reported explosions in several coastal areas, including Bandar Abbas and Qeshm, signaling ongoing regional instability. Despite these attacks, US Central Command confirmed the Strait of Hormuz remains open for transit.
In a related development, President Trump announced plans to hold Iran accountable for recent attacks on shipping by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, pledging to seize Iranian assets to compensate for damages. Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, condemned such measures as dangerous provocations, warning that the normalization of asset confiscation could lead to widespread instability and chaos.