Military sources reported that a nuclear-powered submarine belonging to the British Royal Navy has arrived in the Arabian Sea and has the capability to launch cruise missile attacks.
The submarine HMS Anson, equipped with Tomahawk Block 4 land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles, as well as Spearfish heavy torpedoes, departed from Perth port on March 6 and is believed to be taking up a position in the deep waters of the northern Arabian Sea.
This means that British forces have the capability to launch attacks on Iran should the conflict escalate.
This news came after the Prime Minister's office at Downing Street announced on Friday that Keir Starmer had agreed to allow the United States to use British bases to launch strikes against Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.
Starmer had previously allowed US forces to use the bases for defensive operations only, to prevent Iran from launching missiles that would endanger British interests or lives.
However, he has now agreed to broaden the scope of the objectives to help protect ships in the shipping lane, on the basis of "collective self-defense".
Defense sources said that at the Permanent Joint Command headquarters, Lieutenant General Nick Perry, the chief of joint operations, would give the order to fire if he received authorization from the prime minister.
Then, the submarine HMS Anson will rise close to the surface and fire a barrage of four missiles.
The state-of-the-art submarine, based in Faslane, Scotland, does not have a traditional periscope, and instead displays surface views on a huge television screen.
Its nuclear reactor means it will not need to refuel during its 25 years of service, while its ability to purify water and air enables it to circumnavigate the planet without surfacing.
A source said: "Anson will remain dormant in silence. The Prime Minister and the Commander of Naval Operations will be briefed on her whereabouts, as will the submarine service of course – but her location will not be widely known."
