President Donald Trump has said that the United States could use its Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in England to strike Iran if diplomacy fails.
He made the revelation in a Truth Social post on Wednesday in which he criticized the United Kingdom's plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, where the air base is located, to Mauritius under a century-long lease.
"Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime," Trump said.
Trump's comments underscore how U.S. military planning for potential strikes on Iran intersects with a sensitive U.K.-Mauritius agreement over the Chagos Islands, home to the joint U.S.-U.K. base at Diego Garcia that has long enabled operations across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
The remarks came as the Pentagon moved additional warships, air defenses, and submarines into the Middle East in preparation for possible action, NBC News reported, while Washington and Tehran pursued talks that officials said showed some progress but remained far apart on key issues.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he has told U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer that "leases are no good when it comes to countries," warning that the Britain is "losing control" of Diego Garcia and that the U.S. may need to use the island and RAF Fairford "to eradicate a potential attack" by Iran if no deal is reached.
Trump added that entities claiming rights over Diego Garcia were "fictitious in nature" and urged "DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!," statements that followed the State Department's previous public support for the Chagos agreement.
The U.K. and Mauritius reached a deal in 2025 under which London would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands while leasing Diego Garcia for at least 99 years to secure the joint base's future operations.
U.K. officials have said international court decisions threatened the previous framework and that the agreement is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of the base, which hosts around 2,500 mostly U.S. personnel.
President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social: "I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is 'claiming' Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean.
"Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before.
"In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature. Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime -- An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries.
"Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease. This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally. We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!"
In a statement, a U.K. government spokesperson said previously: "The U.K. will never compromise on our national security. We acted because the base on Diego Garcia was under threat after court decisions undermined our position and would have prevented it operating as intended in future.
"This deal secures the operations of the joint U.S.-U.K. base on Diego Garcia for generations, with robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out. It has been publicly welcomed by the U.S., Australia and all other Five Eyes allies [Canada and New Zealand], as well as key international partners including India, Japan and South Korea]."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cited "good progress" after indirect talks in Geneva with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while the White House said "some progress" was made, but "there are still a lot of details to discuss," according to NBC News.
Newsweek has previously broken down possible military options if talks fail, including renewed targeted strikes, action against Iran's missile infrastructure and other sustained operations short of a large-scale invasion.
Britain separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before Mauritian independence in 1968 and later expelled residents to build the base; a history that led to legal challenges and international pressure culminating in a 2025 U.K.-Mauritius sovereignty deal with a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia.
Trump previously labeled the agreement an act of "great stupidity," arguing it risked U.S. national security even as supporters said it secured the base's long-term operation with backing from key allies.
On Wednesday, the State Department said it supports the U.K.'s decision to proceed with the agreement, but the White House later emphasized that Trump's Truth Social post reflects the administration's policy stance.
The White House will soon assess whether diplomacy can bridge differences with Iran over nuclear and missile constraints that U.S. officials have demanded.
In the U.K., legislation to finalize the Chagos agreement will return to Parliament, and if ratified, London will lease Diego Garcia from Mauritius while ensuring continued U.S.-UK control of the base's operations under the new framework.