Ask Onix
UK expands US military access to bases for Hormuz operations
The British government has approved the use of UK military installations by US forces to launch strikes against Iranian sites targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a shift from purely defensive operations.
Policy shift and reactions
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously restricted US access to British bases for defensive actions only, aimed at protecting UK interests from Iranian missile threats. Downing Street confirmed the policy change on Friday, framing it as part of "collective self-defence" to safeguard vessels in the critical oil transit route.
US President Donald Trump criticized the UK for its delayed response, stating, "They were really pretty much our first ally all over the world." Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Starmer of endangering British lives, warning that Tehran would exercise its right to self-defence.
"Ignoring his own people, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran."
Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister
Missile attack on Diego Garcia
Unnamed US officials told the Wall Street Journal and CNN that Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands. One missile failed mid-flight, while the other was intercepted by a US warship. The timing of the attack remains unclear, and the US military has not commented.
The unsuccessful strike occurred before the UK's decision to expand US access to its bases, though Downing Street emphasized that British forces would not directly participate in US operations.
Political fallout in the UK
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the move the "mother of all U-turns," while Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller warned the UK was being "drawn further and further down Trump's slippery slope." Green Party leader Zack Polanski described it as "another worrying escalation" and demanded a parliamentary vote on the agreement.
Downing Street reiterated that the UK's core approach to the conflict remained unchanged, despite the expanded US access. A spokesperson stated that Iran's attacks on commercial vessels risked deepening regional instability and worsening global economic impacts.
Strategic implications for the Strait of Hormuz
UK military planners have joined US Central Command to explore options for escorting tankers through the strait, which has been effectively closed due to Iranian threats following US and Israeli airstrikes. Data from BBC Verify shows fewer than 100 ships have transited the strait since March 1, compared to an average of 138 daily before the conflict.
The strait carries a fifth of the world's oil supply, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre. A Downing Street spokesperson condemned Iran's "reckless strikes" on Red Ensign vessels and those of allied Gulf states, calling for urgent de-escalation.
Iran's warning and diplomatic tensions
In a call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Araghchi warned that Tehran views the UK's decision as "participation in aggression." Cooper, in turn, condemned Iran's disruption of the strait and demanded a moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities.
Trump earlier dismissed NATO allies as "cowards" for refusing to contribute warships to reopen the strait, claiming the task would be "simple" with minimal risk. The US president's remarks underscore the growing pressure on the UK to align with Washington's strategy in the region.
