Overview
- President Trump labeled the UK “uncooperative” and said Keir Starmer “is no Winston Churchill” after the prime minister initially refused US use of British bases for attacks on Iran.
- Starmer now permits US aircraft to operate from bases in England and Diego García strictly to target Iranian ballistic missiles and storage sites, while ruling out UK participation in offensive action.
- Downing Street framed the stance on legal grounds, with Starmer rejecting “regime change from the skies” and emphasizing that any UK involvement must be lawful and carefully planned.
- The UK is reinforcing defenses, deploying the destroyer HMS Dragon and anti‑drone helicopters after an Iranian‑made drone struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus over the weekend without causing injuries.
- Opposition Conservatives accuse Starmer of weakening the “special relationship,” as officials warn the dispute could jeopardize progress on a US trade deal and complicate the UK–Mauritius Chagos/Diego García arrangement.