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21:02

Britain Lets US Use Its Bases In Bid To Open Strait Of Hormuz, Romania Signs On

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Britain has given the US the green light to use its bases to strike Iranian missile sites that are launching attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial corridor for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf to global markets that Iran has essentially blocked amid the US-Israeli strikes, causing prices to rise.

Ministers meeting on March 20 "confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defense of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz," the British government said in astatement.

Britain and other Western nations have voiced concern about being drawn into the war, and the reluctance of many to get involved in operations to free up the strait has drawn sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump. In a social media post on March 20, he suggested NATO nations refusing to join the efforts were cowards. Reuters reported the same day that Trump said the UK should have acted faster in offering help to the US.

Despite their concerns, on March 19, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan voiced readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait." Romanian President Nicusor Dan announced on March 20 that his country would join that group, saying it is ready to participate in the efforts of the international community that will lead to maintaining prices at a bearable level for the population."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially rejected a US request to use UK bases for strikes on Iran, saying he needed to be sure that any military action was legal. After Iran targeted British allies across the Middle East, Starmer said the US could use an air force base in England and Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean.

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19:31

Fears Spread Of More Executions After Iran Hangs 3 Over Protests

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  RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Human rights groups have condemned Iran's hanging of three men in the first executions over January protests and warned they fear more executions to come.

Authorities in Iran are trying "to frighten the public" and keep them in line in order to remain in power, says Mahmoud Amiry-Moghaddam of the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights organization.