The UK is expected to refuse to allow Donald Trump to use RAF bases for strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including bridges or power plants, risking the wrath of the US president.
Mr Trump has threatened to unleash “hell” on civilian infrastructure in Iran as he ramps up pressure on Tehran to reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, warning on Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless a deal is agreed.
The UK previously granted the United States permission to use British military bases including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites.
Asked whether the government would prevent UK assets being used for strikes on infrastructure, first reported by The i Paper, the prime minister’s official spokesperson reiterated that the UK has only agreed for the US to use British bases for “collective self-defence of the region”.
He said: “We won’t be providing a running commentary on our allies’ operations, including the use of our bases.
“Our position on this hasn’t changed. The agreement is for US to use bases for collective self-defence of the region, including US defensive operations to degrade missile sites and capabilities used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The spokesperson added: “The principles behind the UK’s approach to the conflict remains the same.
“We remain committed to defending our people, our interests and our allies, acting in accordance with international law and not getting drawn into the wider conflict.”
Downing Street’s decision to double down on its position on the conflict comes as international law experts warn that targeting civilian bridges and power plants would constitute a war crime.
Refusing to allow US permission for such strikes is likely to exacerbate already fractious relations between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, which have been increasingly strained in recent months as the prime minister refuses to be drawn into the wider Iran war.
It follows another swipe at Sir Keir by Mr Trump, who compared him to former UK prime minister Neville Chamberlain and his appeasement of the Nazis in 1938.
“We won’t want another Neville Chamberlain, do we agree? We don’t want Neville Chamberlain”, the US president said.
Repeating his threat of strikes on civilian infrastructure in Iran, Mr Trump said that the country will have “no bridges... no power plants... no anything” unless they submit to his demands.
He said he “won’t go further, because there are other things that are worse than those two”, adding: “If I had my choice, what would I like to do? Take the oil. Because it’s there for the taking. There’s not a thing they can do about it.
“Unfortunately, the American people would like to see us come home. If it were up to me I’d take the oil, I’d keep the oil […] make plenty of money and I’d also take care of the people of Iran.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “The UK authorised the United States to use British bases for defensive missions to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities which are threatening British people, bases, and our partners in the region.
“The United States is using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region, which is putting British lives at risk. This is alongside the defensive action the UK is taking to protect British people across the region.”
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