The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said this amid rising concerns regarding US requests for British military participation in maintaining open shipping routes.
The United Kingdom has stated that it will not intervene in the wider conflict unfolding in the Middle East.
The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said this amid rising concerns regarding US requests for British military participation in maintaining open shipping routes.
During a press conference at Downing Street, the Minister mentioned that he was “exploring the options” following Donald Trump’s appeal for allies to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz to assist in restoring global oil supplies from the area.
The Prime Minister recognized that the decision was “challenging, there’s no denying that” after the US President intensified pressure by cautioning that NATO faces a “very bleak” future if its members do not support Washington.
Starmer indicated that the UK, which is contemplating the deployment of ships and mine-hunting drones to the Middle East, is collaborating with allies to formulate a “feasible plan” to reopen shipping lanes. Otherwise, energy prices are likely to remain elevated.
“While we take the necessary measures to protect ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn into the broader conflict. We will continue to strive for a prompt resolution that restores security and stability to the region and mitigates the Iranian threat to its neighbors,” he stated.
“I aim to see an end to this conflict as swiftly as possible, as the longer it persists, the more perilous the situation becomes, and the more detrimental it is for the cost of living here at home.”
He further remarked: “It’s a conversation; we have not yet reached the stage of making decisions. It is undoubtedly a complex issue, to say the least, regarding how to ensure the safety of maritime traffic… However, we are in discussions with the US, Gulf partners, and European nations.
“We cannot permit the conflict in the Gulf to become a boon for Putin. It is now evident that the US operation has significantly diminished the military strength of the reprehensible regime in Iran. The pressing question is, what follows next?”
Ministers have expressed concern regarding the apparent absence of a strategy from Trump for resolving the conflict; however, Starmer – who had a conversation with the US president on Sunday night – emphasized that the UK “must not lose sight” of the necessity for a negotiated settlement in the end.
He stated that his choice not to participate in the initial US offensive was based on principle. “Principles, which I believe resonate with the British populace, dictate that our decision should stem from a calm, rational evaluation of the British national interest.”
Following the spike in oil prices due to the onset of the Iran conflict, Starmer declared that households dependent on heating oil for warmth would receive £53 million in government assistance to alleviate their expenses.
He mentioned that lower-income families would receive focused support, while heating oil vendors engaging in price gouging would be subject to legal repercussions and future market oversight.
The prime minister indicated that he was not dismissing the possibility of government assistance for energy bills more generally if costs had escalated when the cap expires this summer – but he noted that predicting future oil prices is challenging and that prioritizing the de-escalation of the conflict is essential.
The government is facing mounting pressure to enhance support for individuals throughout the UK who are anxious about energy bill costs as the current energy price cap concludes at the end of June, with the new rate set to be revealed in May.
