The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared on 23 July that RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is a “legitimate target” because the United States has resumed flying B‑1 strategic bombers from the base to strike Iranian territory. The statement, carried by the IRGC’s 46th communiqué of its “Operation Nasr 2” campaign, warned “the British monarchy” that any facility used for attacks on Iranian soil would face retaliation. In parallel, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the UK’s decision as a violation of the UN Charter and argued that facilitating US air operations amounts to complicity in “the crime of aggression and war crimes” under UN General Assembly Resolution 3314.

London responded within hours, with a government spokesperson asserting that “our armed forces are ready to keep the United Kingdom safe from any type of attack, whether on our territory or from abroad,” and are operating a multi‑layered air and missile defence system supplied by the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force in close coordination with NATO allies. Officials stressed that the UK’s policy remains unchanged: British bases are made available for what London describes as “collective self‑defence” operations aimed at degrading Iranian missile capabilities that threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The Foreign Office confirmed it had temporarily withdrawn diplomatic staff from Iran, citing the deteriorating security environment.

The exchange followed newly installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to maintain a predecessor’s commitment allowing the US to use Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford for missions against Iran. Bloomberg reported that Burnham was briefed on the policy by senior ministers and gave his consent after taking office. Washington resumed widespread air strikes on Iran on 8 July, after President Donald Trump declared a June ceasefire dead, accusing Tehran of failing to halt attacks on tankers in the strait. US Central Command says operations target command centres, launch sites and air‑defence batteries; Iran, in turn, has struck US‑linked military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and elsewhere, and claims to have mined the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway Washington insists remains open under American naval escort.

Viewed from Tehran, the IRGC frames its regional strikes as retaliation against “occupied” US positions on Muslim soil, not attacks on neighbouring nations, releasing separate communiqués addressed to Kuwait and Jordan. From London, officials face domestic pressure from the Green Party and Liberal Democrats, who argue that hosting US bombers risks making the UK party to alleged war crimes. The diplomatic temperature continues to rise: Trump told Axios he is “close” to ordering a major new combat operation larger than the earlier “Epic Fury” campaign, while Iranian foreign ministry statements warn that “any party that participates in any way in the commission of military aggression against Iran will be responsible for the consequences.” No formal talks are scheduled.