The United Kingdom has sent a squadron of six fighter jets to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, responding to rising apprehensions about a possible U.S. military strike on Iran.
The F-35B stealth aircraft took off from RAF Marham on Friday, tasked with safeguarding the base and surrounding sovereign territories should tensions heighten.
These newly deployed aircraft will join the Typhoon jets already stationed in Cyprus as part of the ongoing Operation Shader, which targets the remaining forces of the Islamic State.
Last month, four Typhoons from the joint UK-Qatar No. 12 Squadron were dispatched to Qatar at the request of the Qatari government.
While the fighter jets are designated for a defensive posture, the Typhoons are engaged in offensive operations, the Times reports.
Over the past weeks, the United States has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East, following President Donald Trump’s warnings of potential action if Iran does not abandon its nuclear program.
The US President has been wavering about whether to intervene militarily since the dictatorship in Tehran brutally put down an insurrection last month.
However, Iran hailed ‘a good start’ to peace talks with the US on Friday night, despite a warning for American citizens to leave the country.
The F-35B stealth aircrafts departed from RAF Marham on Friday to defend the base and sovereign base territories in the event of tensions escalating. Pictured: RAF Typhoon at USAF Base Nellis
The fighter jets will join Typhoons already in Cyprus, which are permanently stationed there as part of Operation Shader against the remnants of the Islamic State. Pictured: RAF Voyager and Typhoons on route to Nevada
American military assets in the Gulf region have increased as aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships has taken up position off the coast of Iran in the Arabian Sea
It is the first time the two sides have had a face to face meeting since the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities last June, joining in the final stages of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign. Tehran has since said it has halted uranium enrichment activity.
Its response at the time included a missile attack on a US base in Qatar, which maintains good relations with both Tehran and Washington.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sounded a positive note after negotiations in Oman, though it was unclear what progress was made.
Araghchi said that despite the talks in Muscat being indirect, ‘an opportunity arose to shake hands with the American delegation’.
Trump on Friday called the talks ‘very good’, and pledged another round of negotiations next week.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump: ‘We had very good talks on Iran, Iran looks like it wants to make a deal very badly.’
However, American military assets in the Gulf region have increased as aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships has taken up position off the coast of Iran in the Arabian Sea.
Trump also signed an executive order effective from Saturday that called for the ‘imposition of tariffs’ on countries still doing business with Iran.
The United States announced new sanctions against numerous shipping entities and vessels, aimed at curbing Iran’s oil exports.
More than a quarter of Iran’s trade is with China, with $18 billion in imports and $14.5 billion in exports in 2024, according to World Trade Organization data.
Protesters congregate at Grey’s Monument in Newcastle city centre this afternoon following on from the protest movement in Iran
Four Typhoons from the joint UK-Qatar No 12 Squadron were sent to Qatarlast month after a request from Doha’s government. Pictured: RAF Voyager and Typhoons on route to Nevada
An aerial view of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group while operating at the Arabian Sea
Araghchi told Al Jazeera that nuclear enrichment was Iran’s ‘inalienable right and must continue’.
In the event of a new US attack, Araqchi said the consequences could be similar.
‘It would not be possible to attack American soil, but we will target their bases in the region,’ he said.
‘We will not attack neighboring countries; rather, we will target U.S. bases stationed in them. There is a big difference between the two.’
