UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out the country’s involvement in the US/Israeli war in Iran on Wednesday while warning of an impending crisis for the UK due to rising costs associated with the conflict.
Starmer also announced plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz – a key shipping and oil export route blocked by Iran – via a 35-nation working group while calling for closer ties with the EU following the country’s decision to exit the bloc in 2020.
“Not in our national interest”
Speaking at a press conference, Starmer reiterated Britain’s decision not to take part in the war in Iran despite earlier criticism from US President Donald Trump, who called Starmer a “loser” over his refusal to allow US forces to use British bases in the Middle East and has recently threatened to withdraw the US from NATO.
“First – let me say once again: This is not our war. We will not be drawn into the conflict. That is not in our national interest,” Starmer said, according to a transcript released by his office.
He then said that a 35-nation coalition is due to meet this week to evaluate options to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
“To that end, we are exploring each and every diplomatic avenue that is available to us… And the UK has now brought together 35 nations around our statement of intent to push, as one, for maritime security across the Gulf,” he said, adding that UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a meeting this week to assess available options.
Earlier reports suggest the coalition would exclude the US, despite Washington’s call for Europe to help the US unblock the strait.
Starmer also said the coalition would work to ensure maritime traffic “after the fighting has stopped.”
“Following this meeting, we will also convene our military planners… To look at how we can marshal our capabilities… And make the Strait accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped,” he said.
“This will not be easy,” he added.
Crisis relief measures
Starmer has warned of an impending “storm” for the British economy and announced a range of relief measures for the British population.
“So today, I want to reassure the British people that no matter how fierce this storm… we are well-placed to weather it and that we have a long-term plan to emerge from it a stronger and more secure nation,” he said.
He cited the energy crisis in the 1970s, “when [his] family could not pay every bill,” as an example, and announced a “five-point plan for the immediate crisis,” which includes:
“We’re taking back control of our energy security, by investing in clean British energy. Because that is the only way we get your bills off the rollercoaster that is controlled by [Kremlin leader Vladimir] Putin and the Iranian regime,” he added.
Closer ties with EU
Starmer then advocated for closer ties with the EU after the country’s 2016 referendum to leave the bloc – a decision made official in 2020.
“However, it is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union,” he said.
Starmer said there will be a new summit with the EU “in the coming weeks.”
“We want to be more ambitious. Closer economic cooperation. Closer security cooperation. A partnership that recognizes our shared values, our shared interests, and our shared future,” he added.
The Green Party welcomed Starmer’s call for closer EU ties but criticized his failure to explicitly condemn the US and Israel, with one lawmaker saying the easiest way to reopen the strait is for both countries to end the war in Iran, according to The Guardian.
“Keir Starmer is at last waking up to the need to look to partners across the European Union rather than the US for long-term security. However, he is still refusing to oppose the US war in Iran that is destabilizing the whole region,” Green lawmaker Siân Berry was quoted as saying.
Al Pinkerton, a spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats Europe, called Starmer’s remarks on EU cooperation “a welcome, albeit overdue, moment of honesty” and urged that a customs union be discussed at the upcoming EU summit, The Guardian reported.