UK PM Starmer Puts Cabinet on Alert Over Potential US Strike on Iran: Financial Times
UK PM Keir Starmer placed his cabinet on alert for a possible U.S. strike on Iran, the Financial Times reports. An emergency meeting reviewed potential U.S. use of Diego Garcia base. While urging diplomacy, London is bracing for escalation in the region.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has placed his cabinet on alert for a possible U.S. military strike on Iran, just a day after stating that U.S. President Donald Trump had given no indication of direct involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Financial Times reported Wednesday.
Starmer convened an emergency meeting of the Whitehall crisis committee, attended by senior ministers, military chiefs, intelligence officials, and U.S. Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson, according to the Financial Times. The discussions reportedly focused on the gravity of the situation and the possibility that Trump may launch an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, potentially from the joint US-UK base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
British officials described the situation as “grave and volatile.”
Although the UK has refrained from direct involvement in the Israel-Iran war thus far, Starmer’s government is now actively assessing scenarios that could implicate British interests, particularly regarding the Diego Garcia base.
A UK official told the Financial Times that it remained unclear whether the U.S. would need explicit British consent to use the base for such an operation.
The Diego Garcia base, leased to the U.S. under a 99-year agreement despite recent sovereignty concessions to Mauritius, currently hosts American B2 stealth bombers capable of deploying the massive ordnance needed to target Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear site, the Financial Times noted.
At a G7 summit in Canada earlier this week, Starmer said there was “nothing” in Trump’s remarks to suggest the U.S. intended to enter the conflict. However, British officials acknowledged that the American position may be evolving and described Washington’s approach as “an iterative process,” the Financial Times reported.
The UK prime minister also discussed de-escalation with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Both leaders emphasized the urgent need for diplomacy, according to Downing Street.
While Starmer continues to support Israel’s right to self-defense and insists Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons, he has so far withheld public support for a U.S. strike, the Financial Times said. British officials remain cautious about further escalating the conflict, especially given the sensitive diplomatic presence the UK maintains in Tehran.
Meanwhile, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed that family members of British embassy and consulate staff in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem have been temporarily withdrawn as a precaution.
However, the UK has not advised its nationals to evacuate Israel, although it has urged citizens to register their presence with consular services and to follow local authority guidance.
The Financial Times also reported that the UK’s RAF has not been asked to support Israel in intercepting Iranian drones, despite having assisted in similar operations in April and October of the previous year.
A spokesperson for Number 10 reaffirmed the government’s position on prioritizing de-escalation and security for British nationals: “Ministers were updated on efforts to support British nationals in the region and protect regional security, as well as ongoing diplomatic efforts.”
As tensions mount and Washington weighs its options, the UK remains on high alert, closely monitoring the developments that could pull its forces and diplomatic assets deeper into the unfolding crisis.
