Washington Mobilizes at British Bases in Anticipation of Possible Strike Against Iran

The British newspaper i Paper revealed that the United States continues to bolster its military presence at air bases within the United Kingdom and Europe, in what is considered one of the largest American air mobilizations in the region in years, amid rising tensions with Iran.

British Rejection and Use of Alternatives

According to the report, London refrained from granting Washington permission to use sovereign bases such as "RAF Fairford" and "Diego Garcia" as launch points for any potential strikes, following a call between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump.
Nevertheless, American aircraft continued to utilize leased bases where they enjoy greater legal flexibility, including "RAF Mildenhall" and "RAF Lakenheath," in addition to facilities in Cyprus.

Dozens of Flights and Widespread Deployment

The newspaper's investigation relied on flight tracking data and satellite images, which showed at least 28 military flights conducted through bases in Britain and Cyprus over a few days, while the number of American aircraft that reached Europe and the Middle East since the beginning of the year has reached 128.
During one week, Washington deployed 76 transport and refueling aircraft, a number that exceeds the total fleet of the Royal Air Force's refueling capabilities.

Pinnacle of Activity and Specialized Aircraft

A peak in activity was recorded over 48 hours between February 17 and 18, with the arrival of KC-135 refueling aircraft and E-3 early warning and control aircraft, reflecting readiness for large-scale air operations.
Satellite images also showed a significant increase in the number of aircraft at the Spanish base in Rota, in addition to the temporary closure of an airport in Bulgaria following the arrival of American planes.

Negotiation Pressure or Prelude to Strike?

These movements come alongside indirect nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Switzerland, where Trump set a specific deadline for reaching an agreement, threatening "harsh" consequences in case of failure.
In turn, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that any American attack would lead to a wide regional confrontation, while Tehran conducted naval maneuvers in the Strait of Hormuz to enhance readiness.

Observers believe that the military mobilization represents a strong negotiation pressure tool, but at the same time indicates practical readiness for a military option, placing the region at a sensitive crossroads between escalation and de-escalation.