London, February 18, 2026 (Khyber Mail): The United Kingdom is reportedly reluctant to allow the United States to use British military bases for potential strikes against Iran, amid concerns that such action could violate international law, according to multiple British media outlets.
Reports in The Times and The Guardian suggest that the government in London has not approved the use of key facilities, including the Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands and Royal Air Force Fairford in Gloucestershire, for preemptive US military action against Tehran.
The issue comes as US President Donald Trump set a ten-day deadline for Iran to reach a nuclear agreement with Washington, warning that failure to do so could result in severe consequences. The statement followed reports of increased US military deployments in the region, including two aircraft carrier strike groups.
According to British media, London maintains that under its interpretation of international law, the use of force is permissible only in cases of self-defense where there is an actual or imminent attack. Officials are said to be concerned that preemptive strikes would not meet this threshold.
The reported disagreement has also been linked to tensions surrounding the future of the Chagos archipelago. The UK has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius under a May 2025 agreement, while retaining control of the military base on Diego Garcia for an initial 99-year period. The US State Department has expressed support for the arrangement.
However, President Trump recently criticized the planned transfer in a social media post, arguing that relinquishing the archipelago would harm US-UK strategic interests. He suggested that access to British bases may be necessary to counter potential threats from Iran, implying that joint action would be legally justified if framed as preventive security.
Neither the White House nor Downing Street has issued an official confirmation regarding operational planning, and discussions between the two allies are believed to be ongoing. The developments highlight potential strains within the transatlantic alliance as tensions with Tehran escalate.