UK nuclear submarine deployed to Arabian Sea before Iran targets key US-UK base: reports

A British nuclear-powered submarine has been deployed to the Arabian Sea amid rising tensions successful the portion and came up of Iran’s failed ballistic rocket effort targeting Diego Garcia, a cardinal U.S.-U.K. subject basal successful the Indian Ocean, according to reports.

HMS Anson — a Royal Navy Astute-class submarine equipped with Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes — traveled astir 5,500 miles from HMAS Stirling, adjacent Perth, Australia, to the portion earlier successful March.

The submarine is reportedly operating successful the bluish Arabian Sea, positioning Britain to respond rapidly if the struggle escalates.

HMS Anson periodically surfaces to support communications with the U.K.’s Permanent Joint Headquarters successful London, GB News reported.

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HMS Anson, the 5th of the Royal Navy's Astute-class atomic submarines, is seen docking successful Gibraltar.  (UCG/Getty Images)

The outlet reported that Anson is typically based astatine Faslane successful Scotland, wherever an Iranian antheral has been charged with attempting to summation entry.

The deployment was said to person travel soon aft the U.K. authorities authorized the United States to usage British subject bases for antiaircraft operations targeting Iranian rocket capabilities that person threatened shipping successful the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, Downing Street said the purpose of those operations was to "degrade the rocket sites and capabilities" utilized successful attacks connected ships, portion emphasizing that Britain does not privation to beryllium drawn into a wider determination conflict.

Tensions intensified Sunday aft Iran launched 2 ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, according to aggregate reports. Neither rocket reached its target; 1 reportedly failed successful flight, portion the different was intercepted.

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Diego Garcia is simply a strategical Indian Ocean basal hosting 2,500 US subject personnel. (Reuters)

The attempted onslaught has raised concerns astir Iran’s rocket range, arsenic Diego Garcia is astir 2,485 miles from Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had warned Britain against supporting U.S. oregon Israeli subject action, saying specified engagement could further escalate the conflict.

Araghchi told U.K. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper that Iran views Britain’s determination to let U.S. forces to usage its bases arsenic "participation successful aggression," according to his relationship of the call, the BBC reported.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi claimed helium told U.K. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper that Iran views Britain’s determination to let U.S. forces to usage its bases arsenic "participation successful aggression." (Shadati/Xinhua via Getty Images)

He besides criticized what helium described arsenic the U.K.’s "negative and biased" attack and demanded that it cease practice with the United States.

The U.K. did not let the U.S. to usage its bases for archetypal violative strikes against Iran but aboriginal granted support for antiaircraft operations successful effect to Iranian rocket threats.

Downing Street said: "We didn’t enactment successful the archetypal strikes, and we’re not getting drawn into the wider war."

Tehran has said it would workout what it calls its close to self-defense if threatened.

Meanwhile, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said Sunday that Royal Air Force assets, including Typhoon jets, stay engaged successful antiaircraft operations successful the region.

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The ministry added that British forces person helped antagonistic Iranian drone threats portion coordinating intimately with allies.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the U.K. Ministry of Defence for comment.