British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has authorised the United States to utilise UK military bases for its operations against Iran, maintaining the policy stance established by his predecessor, Keir Starmer.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the decision was taken during a meeting of senior ministers and officials chaired by Burnham on 17 July.
The meeting was convened to review Britain’s strategic position following the resumption of US military operations.
While a source confirmed the decision, the prime minister’s office has not issued an official comment on the matter. This move ensures continuity with the previous administration’s policy.
In March 2026, former PM Starmer had initially declined a US request to use British bases for strikes against Iran, asserting that any military action must satisfy specific legal conditions.
However, Starmer later reversed his position after Iran launched attacks on Britain’s regional allies.
Following this shift, he granted the US permission to use RAF Fairford in England and the joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
