Burnham Approves Continued US Use of UK Bases for Strikes on Iran
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved continued US use of UK bases including Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford for defensive strikes on Iran amid Iran tensions, extending predecessor Keir Starmer’s policy as US forces conduct their 11th consecutive night of bombardment on Iranian targets. [1]
UK Prime Minister Approves US Strikes from British Bases
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved the US use of some UK bases for defensive air strikes on Iran, in a continuation of a policy introduced by his predecessor Keir Starmer. [1] According to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, Starmer held a meeting of senior ministers and officials on Friday, in which it was decided that US planes could continue to use bases at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. [1] The sources said that Burnham was briefed on the discussion and agreed with the decision, confirming that he would likely continue Starmer’s policy throughout the renewed US operations. [1] Burnham's decision comes shortly after a phone call with Trump in which he outlined the UK’s commitment to securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. [1] In a subsequent post on his Truth Social account, Trump reported that the call covered North Sea Oil, Trade, the Military Alliance, Demining of the Hormuz Strait. [1]
Ongoing US Air Campaign Enters 11th Night
US forces launch strikes on Iran for the 11th consecutive night. [1] Iranian media reported explosions in cities including Bushehr, Tabriz and Chabahar and in the provinces of Kurdistan and Ilam. [1] US Central Command has claimed attacks on operations centres and logistics infrastructure, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars and drone storage facilities. [1] US Central Command said it carried out another wave of airstrikes against Iran on Friday, July 17, 2026. [5] US Central Command, the military command responsible for American operations across the Middle East, said Monday that it struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and air-defense systems as part of an effort to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. [5]
Iranian Retaliatory Attacks on Regional Neighbours
In response, Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes on its US-allied neighbours, including Jordan, Bahrain, Syria and Kuwait. [1] Based on the latest targets, Iran has been signaling that it is prepared to damage water, energy and transport infrastructure elsewhere in the region. [5]
Legal and Human Rights Concerns Raised in Britain
Burnham's continuation of Starmer's policy of allowing American use of British airbases is likely to face backlash, as UK rights groups previously warned that the move could violate international law. [1] Starmer announced his policy in early March, arguing that the bases were to be used for defensive purposes. [1] He later confirmed that the agreement would be expanded to allow for the US to launch strikes from UK bases on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz, also invoking collective self-defence of Gulf state allies as a legal basis for the decision. [1] Human Rights Watch's UK director, Yasmine Ahmed, wrote to the prime minister, highlighting that the government’s legal justification for the move failed to mention issues related to international humanitarian law. [1] She cited a number of instances which have raised questions around US compliance with international humanitarian law, including an air strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, at the start of the US-Israeli assault on 28 February. [1] Over 150 people were killed in the attack, most of them children. [1] A preliminary investigation into the strike by the Pentagon found that the US military was responsible for the attack. [1]
Diplomatic Track Remains Open as Trump Signals Iran Wants Talks
Trump signaled Tuesday that he has not closed the door on diplomacy, saying Iran is seeking talks behind the scenes. [5] Trump told reporters during a Tuesday press conference that Iran wants to meet desperately to try and end it because they are getting decimated. [5] Asked what talks were possible, Trump said they want to desperately meet and until they are ready to meet in a meaningful way, the US has no interest. [5] Trump added that honestly they haven't seen anything yet and the US has been nice. [5] The current military mission remains focused on protecting global shipping, Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly said Sunday. [5] Rubio told reporters Sunday at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland that the only reason why the US is conducting strikes is against assets of Iran that are being used to attack global commercial shipping. [5] Rubio says the US would love to reach a diplomatic settlement with Iran, with a deal possible if the Iranian side no longer sponsors terrorism and pursues a nuclear weapon. [3]
Separate Diplomatic Row with France over Detained Diplomats
An Iranian foreign ministry official denied on Wednesday that two French diplomats were mistreated by Iranian security personnel who detained them for several hours in Tehran. [4] Paris swiftly dismissed the Iranian official's comments, which were reported by state media, and has warned that there will be consequences over the incident. [4] The French foreign ministry summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires on Tuesday over the incident, in which it said two French embassy staff had been detained and physically intimidated by Iranian security services. [4] Paris said the diplomats had their phones taken, were forbidden to contact the embassy and were verbally intimidated in a breach of diplomatic conventions. [4] It said that one of them, the cultural attache, had been subjected to physical violence. [4] State media quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry official Mohammad Tanhaei on Wednesday as saying that security personnel had questioned two French embassy staff after they met individuals who are being investigated for security reasons. [4] Security agents transferred the two individuals to the diplomatic police as soon as they realized their link to the French embassy, he was quoted as saying, as well as adding that there had been no intimidation. [4] French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux denied this, saying the two diplomats had been meeting with a supplier for the embassy. [4] They were acting in a professional framework and despite giving their identities and profession, were held for four hours, he said, reiterating that one of the diplomats had been subjected to physical violence. [4] Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has said the incident will not go without consequences. [4] Diplomats say Paris is considering various options and that its response could be announced on Thursday. [4]
What to watch next: Paris is considering various options for a response to the incident involving the French diplomats, with diplomats indicating that its response could be announced on Thursday.
