OPINION: Worrying weekend ahead as US President Donald Trump looks set to escalate possibly within hours and the UK clamps down security due to Iran threats against RAF bases and royalty13:18, 24 Jul 2026The UK has issued a robust response declaring it is ready to defend itself against Iranian threats over the American use of British bases to launch bombing runs against Tehran. It was inevitable that even though RAF Fairford is primarily used as a US air force base the distinction would be lost on the Iranians- after all it is called RAF Fairford in the UK. And the same goes for former Prime Minister Keir Starmer giving permission for the US to launch defensive actions from there, other UK bases and the island of Diego Garcia.Iran will not see the difference between defensive and offensive and it needs a vulnerable junior US partner to target with no guarantee of harsh consequences. Normally this would mean the UK was giving permission to launch strikes against Iranian missile-firing capability in order to defend the region against attack. But, again, it was always likely that Iran would not appreciate the difference between offensive and defensive. Iran knows that US B1 bombers have taken off from there.And all of this comes as US President Donald Trump has warned he is deciding whether to escalate attacks on Iran this weekend, in a deeply alarming shift of tempo.‌One UK security source, with close connection to the US military machine, told the Daily Mirror on Friday: “There is increasing concern that Trump will escalate this weekend. It is very possible this may involve some kind of ground incursion. Both Trump and so-called Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had a terrible week because of the lack of mission clarity and strategy and there has been no shift in attitude form the Iranians.“Trump may do it to distract from his various issues and Hegseth because he has a deranged sense of masculinity and is obsessed with displaying US military power. But taking the fight to Iran will not be popular.”None of this will abate concerns about security in the UK. Given the Iranian threat that RAF Fairford is, according to Iran, now a “legitimate target” that means the military will boost protection of air bases.‌This will involve troops from the RAF Regiment beefing up perimeter protection, patrols and looking for ‘hostile reconnaissance,” where potential attackers scope their targets. Anyone looking suspicious is likely to be questioned.Iran has also issued a threat “warning to the British monarchy” which is also worrying and may lead to extra patrols by armed Royal Protection police. And exactly what the threat would be is vague, although Iran has recently started employing what the Israeli Mossad agency called a “proxy by proxy” approach.This means employing at arms length criminal elements to do their dirty work, but perhaps several times removed, using groups loosely connected to Iranian intelligence. In the coming weeks and months it will become increasingly difficult for Britain to distance itself from the war in Iran since Tehran is looking for anyone to lash out at.‌The UK is seen as a junior partner to the US, regardless of the fact Starmer made it clear this country was not overtly going to become involved in the war.It will also become increasingly difficult because Iran is looking for anyone to lash out at - witness its attacks on its neighbouring Gulf States. With war spreading to Iran’s Houthis in Yemen and Iran’s Iraqi proxies, both have entered the fight and are now claiming they are attacking the US in the Middle East. There is little hope for a quick solution. And depending on what Trump decides this weekend the situation is looking set to become much worse.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌