Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted large-scale military drills near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, showcasing missile launches, drone operations, naval manoeuvres, and live-fire exercises around Iranian-controlled islands.

Donald Trump has withdrawn his backing for Sir Keir Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal because he has not received UK approval to use its military bases for a US strike on Iran, it has been reported. The US president attacked the agreement to hand sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius and lease back the Diego Garcia joint UK-US military base as “a big mistake”.

Donald Trump's retraction of support for UK's deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius comes as the UK government holds off giving permission for him to use the Diego Garcia military base in the archipelago for any possible strike on Iran.