Image source, ReutersImage caption, US President Donald Trump has expressed his opposition to the Chagos dealByJonathan Beale, Defence correspondent and Joe Pike, Political correspondentPublished19 February 2026 The British government has not given permission for the US to use UK military bases to support potential US strikes on Iran, the BBC understands. 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. The Times reports, external that US President Donald Trump's latest criticism of Sir Keir Starmer's deal to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius and lease back a joint UK-US military base was prompted by the UK withholding permission to use bases. A UK government spokesperson said: "As routine, we do not comment on operational matters." The US has been pressuring Iran to agree to curb its nuclear programme.
Published: February 19, 2026 5:13 pm
Source: BBC — Read original