Uk holds back from endorsing US-Israeli strikes after Trump calls Starmer

The uk has publicly declined to endorse the strikes on Iran carried out by the US and Israel, following a brief phone call from US President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The government says its military activity in the region is defensive and consular systems have been mobilised as political divisions deepen at home.

Brief White House-instigated call and terse Downing Street readout

The phone call between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer was brief and was instigated by the White House, a Downing Street readout said only that "They discussed the situation in the Middle East. " The contact followed Starmer being included alongside leaders from Turkey and Kuwait in receiving a call from the US president.

RAF jets airborne from Qatar and Cyprus in defensive missions

Starmer said RAF fighter jets were "in the sky today" to protect allies in the Middle East and that British planes were operating in a defensive capacity "in line with international law. " Fighter jets were running defensive operations from Qatar and Cyprus to shoot down any incoming drones and missiles, and British forces are located at the bases in small numbers.

Last month the UK deployed RAF Typhoons to Qatar to protect al-Udeid airbase and other allied facilities, and an extra six F-35s plus additional air defence, radar and counter-drone systems were sent to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, from where they could be used to defend Israel, Jordan or other countries in the region.

Uk, France and Germany say they did not participate and urge restraint

In a joint statement with Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, the leaders said "We did not participate in these strikes" and added they were in contact with the US, Israel and other regional allies. Their comments focused on Iran: "We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future. "

A government spokesperson reiterated that "Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon" and said that is why the UK has supported efforts for a negotiated solution. The spokesperson added the government's immediate priority is the safety of UK nationals in the region and that consular assistance is available 24/7, that the UK has bolstered defensive capabilities in the region and stands ready to protect its interests, and that it does not want further escalation into a wider regional conflict.

Domestic political pressure, party history and wider political turbulence

Starmer faces pressure from both left and right: those on the left want him to condemn Donald Trump's actions as "illegal" and unjustified, while those on the right want open support. The Conservatives and Reform UK accuse him of sitting on the fence and failing to offer adequate support to America, for example by making British bases available to the US air force, while the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party have expressed scepticism about the US strikes.

Military intervention in the Middle East is a sensitive issue for a Labour party still haunted by the Iraq war. Domestically, this standoff comes after an "extraordinarily turbulent start to 2026" that has included diplomatic and military flashpoints such as Venezuela and Greenland, and political issues at home including the Epstein files and Lord Mandelson, plus a recent moment of intense political vulnerability for the prime minister.

Consular moves, base requests refused and regional escalation

The Foreign Office has set up its "Register Your Presence" system for Britons in many Middle Eastern countries so the government can keep in touch. British nationals in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were advised to shelter in place after reports of Iranian missile attacks, and the Foreign Office advised against all travel to Israel and Palestine.

It is understood British airbases were not used by the US air force as part of the initial attacks; Starmer rejected a request from Donald Trump to use RAF bases in Diego Garcia and Fairford earlier this month. The US and Israel have begun a wide-ranging campaign aimed at regime change in Iran and at bombing its nuclear and missile sites, while Iran launched immediate counterattacks including strikes on Israel and Jordan and on US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

Economic and logistical worries as Strait of Hormuz and transport hubs are hit

There is clear worry in government about the many British people in the Middle East and travellers passing through major hub airports. Officials flagged concern about the economic impact of blockages to the Strait of Hormuz — described in coverage as 24 miles wide and sitting below Iran — a vital artery for world trade and oil shipments, and asked what such blockages could mean for inflation, interest rates and the cost of fuel.

Two ships were hit near the Strait of Hormuz as fears grew of oil price rises, and thousands were stranded after Iranian strikes forced airports to close, including at Dubai and Doha.

• Starmer chaired a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee earlier on Saturday to discuss how the UK would respond.
• Donald Trump said Iran operations were "ahead of schedule" as Iran hit back across the region.