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By Deborah Haynes, security and defence editor

The US may ask the UK to station American refuelling aircraft at a British base in Cyprus as Donald Trump weighs up whether to join Israel's war against Iran.

American B-52 bombers and jets are already deployed to Diego Garcia, a British base in the Indian Ocean, as part of a massive expansion of US firepower in the region.

However, it is not thought that conversations have taken place yet about pre-positioning B-2 stealth bombers at Diego Garcia. These US warplanes are armed with bunker busting bombs big enough to reach Iran's Fordow nuclear site, built deep into a mountain.

Under long-standing rules, the UK must grant permission to the US to use Diego Garcia for military operations.

The White House will need Britain's green light to be able to launch bombing raids against Iran from the site.

It is not clear whether that request has been made or what the answer would be.

Sources indicated that they did not believe President Trump had made a decision about whether to strike Iran, but they are preparing for all eventualities.

What is the current deployment?

British troops based in small numbers across the region, including Iraq, Bahrain and the RAF base at Akrotiri in Cyprus, are on alert in case the fighting spreads.

Any move by President Trump to bomb Iran could prompt the Iranian military to strike American, British and other allied targets across the Middle East.

Bolstering its defences, the British government has sent additional Typhoon jets to Akrotiri 鈥� taking the number to 14 along with two tanker aircraft, it is understood.

More British warplanes may also be deployed.

The US military has already sent tanker aircraft 鈥� which are used to refuel fighter jets mid-flight 鈥� to Spain and Greece and may also request to use the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus.

An American aircraft carrier is also expected to arrive in the region within the next five to seven days. Three US fast jet squadrons have already been deployed.

The huge array of military strength is currently in a defensive posture, designed to deter Iran from striking against US interests. However it could be turned into an offensive force.

 Our flagship weeknight politics programme is under way.

We will be joined by shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, and former ambassador to multiple Middle Eastern countries, Sir William Patey.

On our panel is Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Liz Saville-Roberts, and broadcaster Nick Ferrari.

Watch live on Sky News and in the stream at the top of this page.

Is the cost of living crisis over?

If you're looking purely at the annual inflation data, the numbers us journalists, not to mention politicians and economists, tend to focus on, the answer might seem like: probably, yes.

Sure, the rate is, at 3.4% in May, higher than the Bank of England's 2% target. But it's far below the double-digit peaks experienced in 2022. Plus, the Bank itself thinks prices are likely to drop back down towards 2% in the coming year or two, even assuming a few more interest rate cuts. End of story, right?

Well, not quite. Because look a bit deeper into the numbers and you notice a couple of important things.

Here's a rule I tend to apply across the board in Westminster: If a politician is talking, politics is probably taking place.

Add into that, if the topic of debate is especially grave or serious, be more prepared to apply the rule, not less.

There is no doubt Tory leader Kemi Badenoch was politicising the issue when she ripped into the government in the Commons on Monday.

In fact, she admitted as much.

Asked about it during her news conference, she said: "When I'm in the Commons, I will do politics. If every time we are pointing things out and doing our job we are accused of politicising something, it makes it a lot harder."

So the question here is less about whether politics is at play (it almost always is and that's not necessarily a bad thing), and more about whose interests the politics is working towards.

In other words, does Ms Badenoch care about the grooming scandal because she cares about victims or because she cares about herself?

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has announced new protections in a bill which will attempt to cut benefits to more than three million households.

In its current form, the government faces a big rebellion from dozens of Labour MPs over concerns that changes to welfare will drive families into poverty.

On today's episode, Matt Barbet is joined by political correspondent Tamara Cohen to discuss the backlash from inside the Labour Party and the wider public.

We've just had a statement from Downing Street following the conclusion of the COBRA meeting on the Israel-Iran conflict.

A spokeswoman said: "The prime minister chaired a ministerial COBRA meeting this afternoon on the situation in the Middle East.

"Ministers were updated on efforts to support British nationals in the region and protect regional security, as well as ongoing diplomatic efforts."

It is understood that Sir Keir Starmer will continue to have calls with regional counterparts on the situation.

British nationals are not currently being offered repatriation flights by the UK government. Instead, they are being advised to shelter in place, or can receive assistance in Jordan or Egypt from Foreign Office teams, should they choose to leave by land.

The COBRA meeting about the Israel-Iran conflict has now finished, Sky News understands.

COBRA - which stands for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A - is often called in times of emergency, such as civil unrest or flooding.

It was chaired by the prime minister, and also in attendance were Foreign Secretary David Lammy, UK ambassador to the US Lord Peter Mandelson, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

Other ministers and officials were also likely present, but they were not spotted by the (many) cameras outside the building.

The UK's defence chief, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, was also spotted entering Downing Street. He has since made his scheduled appearance at an event nearby.

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.

They start by picking over what Keir Starmer had to say about the potential for an American attack on Iran 鈥� which sounded rather different from the line his German counterpart was taking. So what was going on there then?

Back in Westminster, the details of benefit cuts which will impact millions get published 鈥� the government needs to convince dozens of Labour MPs to back the plan.

And HS2 slows down 鈥� we'll hear today that the new line will be delayed beyond 2033.

The UK's chief of the defence staff has arrived for the COBRA meeting on the Israel-Iran war.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin was spotted walking up Whitehall, along with his protection detail.

He is due to be giving a speech in less than 45 minutes - it's unclear if that is still the plan.

Cabinet ministers have started to arrive in Downing Street for the COBRA meeting due to take place shortly on the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Also spotted was the UK's ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson, who was already in the UK for a pre-scheduled engagement.

It comes amid reports the US is considering joining Israel in striking Iran.