Trump Says US Bombers Left British Airbase Over Iran Linked Threat

President Donald Trump said Monday that a threat linked to Iran led the US to pull its B-1 bombers out of RAF Fairford in Britain. The base is the preferred European site for US bombers and had recently supported strikes on Iran. Trump said it costs little to move the planes, adding that the US knows who made the threat and that they would be linked to Iran. Vice President JD Vance said the move was made out of caution, accusing Iran of acts of terrorism for 49 years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, said there was no direct link between the move and the suspected plot, and that the Pentagon is constantly reallocating resources. The New York Times reported that commanders rushed the move over the weekend after fresh threats, with some bombers leaving before refuelling aircraft were ready.

Fairford Arrests and Iran’s Response

On Sept. 27, five British men in their 20s were arrested after being seen running into fields from three white vans near the base. Police found no explosive devices but did find petrol. A sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested four days later. All have been released on bail. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said any plot was likely backed by Iran. Iran denies involvement, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said accusers were barking up the wrong tree. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had earlier called the base a legitimate target.

Impact on US Strike Capacity and UK Ties

Analyst Christoph Bergs of the Royal United Services Institute said the move cuts US capacity to quickly surge sorties against Iran in the short term. Still, London had limited Fairford use to defensive strikes on missile sites attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a stance that has strained US-UK ties. The bombers could shift to Diego Garcia or Gulf bases. A senior NATO official said the alliance’s defensive agility is unchanged.