Tehran has declared RAF Fairford a “legitimate military target” after American B-1B bombers reportedly used the British base for missions against Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued the threat in an attempt to deter Britain from allowing the US to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The strategically important base has a runway designed to accommodate heavily armed long-range bombers, including the B-1B and B-52.
The British government responded that its armed forces remain prepared around the clock to defend the country alongside NATO allies. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has continued the policy of permitting US forces to operate from British bases while maintaining that Britain is not directly participating in offensive operations against Iran.
Western defense officials believe Iran may possess, or be developing, multistage ballistic missiles theoretically capable of covering the roughly 3,700-kilometer distance to Britain. However, their accuracy at such a range is uncertain, and any launch would face Britain’s and NATO’s layered missile-defense systems.
