Trump Says Iran-Linked Threat Prompted US to Move B-1 Bombers From UK

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merican President Donald Trump said a threat linked to Iran prompted the United States to withdraw B-1 bombers from a British airbase, as questions remained over an alleged plot targeting the facility and tensions between Washington and Tehran continued to rise.

The bombers had been deployed at RAF Fairford, a key US base in Britain that has been used to support American military operations in the Middle East. They were recently involved in US strikes on Iran.

Trump said on Monday that the aircraft were moved after US officials received information indicating a potential threat.

“We had an idea that there might be a threat, and why would I leave them there?” Trump told reporters. He said moving the aircraft cost relatively little and that the decision was intended to reduce the risk to US personnel and military assets.

Asked whether the people behind the threat were connected to Iran, Trump said they were.

Vice President JD Vance said the move was made as a precaution, citing concerns about Iran’s record of attacks against US interests and other targets. “We are being extremely cautious,” Vance said, while declining to provide further details.

However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to distinguish the bomber withdrawal from the suspected plot. He said there was no direct link between the removal of the aircraft and the arrests and that the Pentagon was regularly reallocating military resources according to operational requirements.

A NATO military source said Iran was still considered an acute threat to US assets in Britain.

Iran has rejected allegations that it was involved in any plot against the airbase. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi dismissed the accusations as baseless, saying claims about alleged terrorists working for foreign states did not establish Iranian responsibility.

Fairford’s role in US Middle East operations

RAF Fairford, about 145 km west of London, is one of the most important European bases available to the United States for heavy bombers such as the B-1. Although the aircraft are not permanently stationed there, the base has supported previous US military campaigns in the Middle East.

A Pentagon official confirmed that all US bombers deployed at Fairford had returned to their home bases in the United States. The Pentagon said the bomber force remained ready to provide precision global strike capabilities “anywhere, anytime.”

The withdrawal could nevertheless reduce Washington’s ability to quickly launch additional missions against Iran from Europe.

Christoph Bergs, a research analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, said the redeployment would temporarily reduce the US capacity to “quickly surge sorties against Iran,” potentially lowering the immediate threat level.

He also noted that Fairford’s operational role had already been constrained by restrictions imposed by Britain.

During the current conflict, Washington had permission to use Fairford only for defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Britain had refused to allow US forces to use its bases for offensive operations against Iran.

The restrictions have contributed to strains in the traditionally close US-British relationship.

The aircraft could potentially be moved to other US facilities, including Diego Garcia or bases in the Gulf, although such a move would depend on available capacity, agreements with allies and security considerations, according to Bergs.

The security concerns at Fairford emerged after a series of arrests near the base.

“A plot”

In the early hours of September 27, five British men in their 20s were arrested after police saw them running into fields from three white vans parked near the facility. Police said no explosives were discovered, although petrol was found.

The five men were later released on bail. A sixth man, a dual British-Iranian national arrested four days later on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, was also released on bail.

Trump had previously said the alleged plot was intended to cause “big damage” and suggested it might have been connected to Iran. He later criticized the decision to release the suspects on bail.

The British government has declined to comment on the alleged Iranian connection, although a spokesman for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the base remained safe.

A senior NATO military official said the removal of the bombers would not affect the alliance’s overall ability to respond to threats, emphasizing the combined capabilities of its 32 members.

The incident has nevertheless highlighted the security risks surrounding US military facilities in Europe as Washington remains engaged in the conflict with Iran. The decision to move the B-1 bombers also illustrates the balance between maintaining forward military capabilities and protecting American personnel and equipment from potential attacks.

(Source: Reuters)