British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said UK aircraft and personnel are working alongside allies to protect British interests and regional stability, but stressed that Britain did not directly participate in the strikes on Iranian territory.
The coordinated attacks targeted senior Iranian leadership and strategic assets, plunging the region into its most serious confrontation in decades. U.S. President Donald Trump said the military action was designed to eliminate what he described as a long-standing security threat and to prevent Iran from advancing its weapons programmes.
Starmer said Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, calling this a non-negotiable priority for Britain and its allies. He described Iran’s leadership as “utterly abhorrent” while warning that further escalation could spiral into a full-scale regional war.
Following an emergency national security meeting, the UK leader held urgent talks with European counterparts. In a joint statement, allied leaders strongly condemned Iranian attacks across the region and urged Tehran to return to negotiations to avoid catastrophic consequences.
“Iran can end this conflict now,” Starmer said, calling on Iranian authorities to halt further strikes, abandon weapons development and end violent repression against their own population. He added that the Iranian people deserve the right to determine their future without fear.
As tensions surged, the British government issued urgent travel warnings, advising citizens to avoid Israel and the Palestinian territories and to seek shelter in Gulf states. Diplomatic staff were also relocated from high-risk areas as a precaution.
With missiles exchanged, airspace disrupted and regional security on edge, global leaders are racing to prevent the crisis from expanding into a wider war that could destabilize energy markets and international security for years to come.
