Starmer insists Britain will not join Iran war as tensions grow with Trump – NATIONAL NEWS

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted Britain will not be dragged into a wider war with Iran, resisting mounting pressure from Donald Trump to support US military action in the Middle East.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference this morning, the Prime Minister said his priority was ending the conflict quickly and protecting the British economy from the knock-on effects of soaring energy prices. Yet the remarks also underlined the awkward position he now finds himself in, caught between Washington’s demands and growing global instability.

Sir Keir said:

“While taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn into the wider war.

“I want to see an end to this war as quickly as possible because the longer it goes on, the more dangerous the situation becomes and the worse it is for the cost of living back here at home.”

The Prime Minister’s cautious approach has already strained relations with the White House. Trump has openly criticised the UK for refusing to take part in the US and Israeli strikes on Tehran and for declining to send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route now effectively blockaded by Iran.

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On Sunday the US president warned Nato allies they faced a “very bad” future unless they helped restore access to the strait by force. He suggested America had carried the burden of defending Europe, including through support for Ukraine, and expected allies to return the favour.

Trump singled out Britain in particular, telling the Financial Times:

“When I asked for them to come, they didn’t want to come.”

So far, Starmer has refused to commit to sending naval vessels. Asked about the prospect of British warships joining the operation, he said:

“It’s a discussion. We’re not at the point of decisions yet. It’s obviously a difficult question, that goes without saying, in relation to how you safeguard maritime traffic.

“But we are discussing that with the US, with Gulf partners and with Europeans.”

The hesitant language reflected a familiar pattern from a Prime Minister who often appears more comfortable convening meetings than making clear decisions. While he insisted he had a “good relationship” with Trump and that Britain and the United States remained “strong allies”, the diplomatic reality suggests relations are under unusual strain.

Sir Keir attempted to portray his stance as principled restraint, declaring he would “stand firm” despite criticism from both Washington and political opponents at home.

“My leadership is about standing firm for the British interest, no matter the pressure,” he said.

Yet the refusal to commit to a course of action has left Britain looking uncertain at a moment when global markets are already rattled. Oil prices surged above $106 a barrel after US strikes hit Iran’s Kharg Island, the terminal responsible for about 90 per cent of the country’s oil exports.

The disruption has raised fears of rising energy bills and renewed cost of living pressures in the UK. Starmer announced £53 million in support for poorer households that rely on heating oil, while insisting the Government was “taking all necessary measures” to secure energy supplies.

He also said the current 5p fuel duty cut would remain in place until September, though he declined to say whether it would be extended.

“On fuel duty that is being held until September,” he said. “There’s obviously a lot of change that could happen in that period. And we need to keep the situation under review.”

The Prime Minister likewise refused to commit to introducing a new energy price guarantee if bills rise sharply again, saying only that the Government was “not ruling anything out”.

Meanwhile the conflict continues to ripple across the region. More than 92,000 British nationals have returned to the UK on evacuation flights from the Middle East, according to Downing Street.

Sir Keir also confirmed that thousands of British troops remain stationed across the region and that RAF fighter squadrons are working alongside counter drone teams to intercept Iranian attacks.

Despite praising the US campaign for having “massively weakened the military capability of the abhorrent regime in Iran”, Starmer conceded the future remained deeply uncertain.

“The question is: what comes next?” he said.

“When the fighting stops, we are going to need some sort of negotiated agreement to constrain the threat posed by Iran.”

For now, Britain’s position appears to be one of uneasy detachment, offering rhetorical support to Washington while avoiding direct involvement. Whether that balancing act can survive continued pressure from the White House remains to be seen.