US bombers have reportedly departed the UK as the Middle East crisis appears poised to escalate. The aircraft left Britain shortly after US President Donald Trump issued threats of strikes against Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility, according to Iranian news source The Hormuz Letter. The claim was posted on X, alongside video footage of an aircraft flying overhead.
Burnham's Approval
This follows the UK's new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, giving the green light for American forces to use British military bases for specific attacks on Iran. The move mirrors a stance taken by Burnham's predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer. It qualifies the strikes as "defensive" rather than an active war, according to a Bloomberg report. Burnham's office has yet to release an official statement on the matter.
Trump's Warning and Nuclear Facility
Trump cautioned on Tuesday, July 21 that the Iranian nuclear site at Pickaxe Mountain could face targeting unless a diplomatic solution was found. Pickaxe Mountain, situated roughly 140 miles south of Tehran, serves as protection for an underground tunnel network. The Middle Eastern nation publicly declared its plans for nuclear operations at Pickaxe Mountain as "part of their quite systematic intention to put their most sensitive facilities underground," International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi told PBS earlier this year.
Conflict Background
Iran's nuclear prowess continues to be a bone of contention in the war, which sparked when the US and Israel launched joint attacks on several crucial Iranian locations in February, prompting Iran to retaliate by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz and striking sites across the region. Last month, the US and Iran inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of concluding the war within 60 days. Washington and Tehran were working to secure a lasting peace deal to end the conflict, re-establish international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and attempt to resolve an ongoing disagreement over Tehran's nuclear programme. However, Iran has declared its complete withdrawal from the MoU, citing American violations, while Trump announced the ceasefire was "over".
Trump-Burnham Conversation
On Monday, July 20, Trump shared the details of his conversation with Burnham. Trump stated that the two leaders discussed four key issues, among other subjects: North Sea oil, trade, the military alliance, and the demining of the Strait of Hormuz.
