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Britain has told Washington it will not allow American forces to use United Kingdom military bases to launch strikes against Iranian civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The decision reflects deepening unease within the British government over the potential consequences of a broadening military confrontation with Tehran.

UK officials have argued privately that targeting Iran's civilian infrastructure would constitute a disproportionate use of force under international law and could trigger a catastrophic regional escalation, drawing in proxies across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. British bases in Cyprus and Diego Garcia, which have historically been used to support American military operations in the Middle East, would fall under the restriction.

The refusal marks a notable point of divergence between London and Washington at a moment of acute tension over Iran's nuclear programme. US officials have been exploring military options amid stalled diplomatic efforts to constrain Tehran's uranium enrichment activities, with some within the Trump administration advocating for strikes that go beyond nuclear facilities to degrade Iran's broader strategic capacity.

British officials have emphasised their support for preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon but have drawn a firm line at operations they believe could cause mass civilian casualties or ignite a wider war. The UK position echoes growing concern among Gulf states, including Qatar, which hosts the largest US military base in the region at Al Udeid Air Base, about the unpredictable fallout from an escalatory strike campaign.

Doha has consistently advocated for diplomatic engagement with Tehran, maintaining open channels of communication that have made Qatar a key backchannel in US-Iran negotiations. Qatari officials have warned that military action targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure would undermine regional stability and set back years of careful diplomatic groundwork.

The UK's stance could complicate Washington's operational planning while simultaneously reinforcing calls from Gulf governments for restraint. European allies including France and Germany have similarly urged the United States to exhaust all diplomatic options before any military action, amid fears that a strike on Iran could send oil prices surging and destabilise the broader Middle East at an already fragile moment.