Overview
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom played no role in U.S.-Israel strikes and stated Iran had backed more than 20 potentially lethal plots on UK soil in the past year.
- The government initially blocked U.S. use of Diego Garcia, RAF Fairford and RAF Akrotiri for operations tied to the Iran campaign, then granted limited access after Iranian attacks on targets in Dubai and Bahrain and threats to forward bases were reported.
- U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, and Gulf partners were reported to be angered by Britain’s initial refusal, with commentators arguing the episode damaged UK credibility.
- Reports highlighted delayed or constrained UK deployments, including claims that HMS Dragon remained in UK waters and that key air and naval assets were not promptly positioned east of Suez.
- A candlelit vigil in Manchester for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, organized by the Friends of the Islamic Centre of Manchester with support from Ahlul-Bayt societies, drew counter-protesters as police kept the groups apart.