Brits deny use of Diego Garcia for any U.S. strikes on Iran: Report

The U.K. won’t allow the Pentagon to use British bases to launch attacks on Iran, reported The Times of London.

The ban includes Diego Garcia, the joint U.S.-U.K. base in the Indian Ocean that has been at the center of a deal for Britain to hand over control of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.

Now amid President Trump’s military buildup in the Mideast, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government won’t permit air missions against Iran to be launched from Diego Garcia or RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, home of America’s B-52 bomber force in Europe, according to the British newspaper.

“Under the terms of long-standing agreements with Washington, these bases can only be used for military operations that have been agreed in advance with the government,” the Times reported.

Mr. Starmer’s Cabinet is reportedly concerned that any use of Diego Garcia or RAF Fairford would be a violation of international law, which “makes no distinction between a state carrying out the attack and those in support if the latter have ’knowledge of the circumstances of the internationally wrongful act.’”

London’s refusal to grant use of the two bases for missions against Iran has apparently prompted Mr. Trump to withdraw his support for Mr. Starmer’s deal to hand over the island chain.

“Should Iran decide not to make a [nuclear deal], it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime — an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly countries,” the president said on social media.

Mr. Trump said London shouldn’t cede control of the Chagos Islands, calling such a deal “a blight on our great ally.”

He added, “Leases are no good when it comes to countries, and … 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. We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. Do not give away Diego Garcia.”