GLOUCESTERSHIRE — The British government stated the UK is ready to defend itself following warnings from Iran's military that US-used bases are legitimate targets. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was notified last week that a decision had been made to extend the agreement with the US.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for its forces. The IRGC stated that American bombing missions were launched from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire two days prior to the statement.

A British government spokesperson said the armed forces are ready to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, whether on soil or from abroad, and that the UK stands ready 24/7 to defend itself. The spokesperson said the UK's defense includes operating a layered approach to air and missile defence, provided by Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force assets equipped with a range of advanced capabilities, working closely with NATO allies. He said the UK is committed to defending its people, its interests and its allies, acting in accordance with international law and not getting drawn into the wider conflict. The UK has allowed the US to launch defensive operations from British bases hosting American planes since the start of the war on Iran. The UK has refused to help in offensive operations against Iran. The US carried out a 12th consecutive night of strikes against targets in Iran prior to the IRGC statement.

The UK Ministry of Defense has not commented on whether RAF Fairford was used by the US for operations against Iran this week. The US B-1 Lancer bomber, used in strikes against Iran, has a payload capacity of 24 2,000-pound bombs, coverage of its deployment from RAF Fairford. The UK government published a legal summary on 2 March 2026 justifying the use of RAF Fairford for collective self-defense under international law, stating that UK forces are authorized to defend against Iranian threats to allies and British interests.

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued its 46th statement since the conflict resumed, explicitly designating US-authorized bases like RAF Fairford as legitimate targets for Iranian forces. RAF Fairford is the USAF's only European airfield for heavy bombers and routinely supports Bomber Task Force operations.

Donald Trump said he was considering ordering a massive attack on Iran. He: he is close to making a decision and that they are all set for it. Trump said Iran would pay a big price for killing US troops. He warned that the Iranian nuclear site in Pickaxe Mountain could become a target if a diplomatic resolution was not reached.

The IRGC accused the British monarchy regime of being the primary cause of hardships in the region with a black record of partitioning Islamic nations, widespread massacres, imposing despotic regimes, and organising the occupation of Palestine. The IRGC warned the British government not to weigh down its record any further. Iran has launched strikes against countries in the Gulf that house US military bases, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. American service personnel were killed in some of the Iranian attacks in the Gulf. A drone struck the RAF base at Akrotiri in Cyprus on 1 March, hitting a hangar and prompting a partial evacuation.

Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the UK’s Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands on 19 March. One of the ballistic missiles fired at Diego Garcia reportedly failed mid-flight, while the other was shot down by a US airship. Oil prices topped $100 a barrel on Thursday.

The designation of RAF Fairford as a legitimate target by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps introduces the possibility of direct attacks on British soil. The base serves as the USAF's only European airfield for heavy bombers, including the B-1 Lancer, which has a payload capacity of 24 2,000-pound bombs. The UK government has justified the base's use for collective self-defense under international law, but the IRGC's 46th statement since the conflict resumed explicitly challenges this legal positioning.

The escalation follows a series of Iranian strikes against Gulf nations hosting US military bases, resulting in the deaths of American service personnel. With oil prices topping $100 a barrel, the economic implications of a widened conflict are becoming increasingly visible. The UK's commitment to not being drawn into the wider conflict is tested by the threat to its own territory and the extension of its agreement with the US for defensive operations.