The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly refused permission for the United States to use UK military bases forstrikeson Iran, amid rising tension between Washington and Tehran. Furthermore, Starmer's decision could increase tensions between the US and the UK over the planned transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This comes as US PresidentDonald Trumphas given Iran a 10–15 day deadline to reach a nuclear deal, warning of consequences otherwise.
The US has in the past used RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, and the UK overseas territory of Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, to carry out strikes in the Middle East region. However, this time the Starmer government has withheld permission, reported The Times.
According to the report, US President Donald Trump's latest criticism of Starmer's deal to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius and lease back a joint UK-US military base has prompted the decision. A UK government spokesperson told The Times: "As routine, we do not comment on operational matters."
US President Donald Trump warned Iran to come to terms with the US on the nuclear deal within 10 to 15 days or "it's going to be unfortunate." "We're either going to get a deal, or it's going to be unfortunate for them... 10-15 days would be enough time," Trump told reporters.
Earlier, Trump at the Board of Peace repeated the same threats, "Now is the time for Iran to join us on a path that will complete what we're doing. And if they join us, that'll be great. If they don't join us, that'll be great, too. But it'll be a very different path."
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He stressed that Tehran could not continue destabilising the region."They cannot continue to threaten the stability of the entire region. And they must make a deal. Or if that doesn't happen, bad things will happen if it doesn't," the US President said.
Trump asked Starmer not to hand over Diego Garcia to Mauritius, referring to the move as a "big mistake." "I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that leases are no good when it comes to countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100-year lease with whoever it is that is 'claiming' right, title, and interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean," Trump posted on Truth Social.
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"Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature," he added.
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