PNN – Bloomberg reported Thursday night, citing informed sources that Britain has refused to issue a permit to use its bases for any US aggression against Iran.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, citing Bloomberg, this decision was made due to concerns related to international law as well as other considerations.
The report added that US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of support for the British agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius comes at a time when London refused to issue a permit to use the Diego Garcia base to attack Iran.
Bloomberg reported that the United States has increased military equipment in the Middle East to increase pressure on Iran. Trump said Wednesday that the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean and an air base in England could play a vital role.
But the British newspaper The Times and then other media outlets reported on Thursday that the British government had refused to grant the United States permission to use its bases.
British Defense Secretary Al Carnes told the House of Commons last month that using British military bases for operational purposes required “a legal basis and political rationale for any potential activity.”
Meanwhile, the British government said in a statement on Thursday: As is our normal practice, we do not comment on operational matters. There is a political process between the United States and the current situation, which the United Kingdom supports.
The Chagos Islands and the Diego Garcia base are located approximately 3,200 kilometers off the coast of East Africa. Diego Garcia is used as a joint military installation by the US and the UK, and the Chagos Islands allow them to carry out missions in the Middle East and Asia more easily.