UK PM Starmer: No Threat from Iran, Prioritizing British Interests
PM Starmer says Iran is not targeting Britain, stresses protecting national interests and managing Middle East tensions.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday said there is no evidence that mainland Britain is being targeted by Iran, while emphasizing the government’s priority to protect national interests and avoid further escalation in the Middle East. Speaking during a visit to a school in southeast London, Starmer told reporters, “We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep us safe, and there's no assessment that we're being targetted in that way,” according to The Guardian.
His remarks came in response to reports that Iran had launched two ballistic missiles at the US-British military base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago over the weekend. Starmer highlighted the need for careful planning regarding any attempt to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, adding that de-escalation and safeguarding British interests are the government’s top priorities, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Prime Minister also noted that officials are considering all available measures to mitigate potential cost-of-living impacts resulting from tensions in the region. The government is closely monitoring the situation and evaluating options for ensuring the security and economic stability of the UK.
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Public concern over the conflict has spilled onto the streets of London, where thousands of protesters marched from Russell Square to Whitehall on Saturday. Demonstrators joined a wider wave of protests across Europe against US and Israeli military strikes on Iran, carrying banners and chanting slogans condemning the attacks.
Meanwhile, British media reported that the nuclear-powered Royal Navy submarine HMS Anson has arrived in the northern Arabian Sea. Equipped with Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, the vessel could launch strikes on Iran if authorized by the Prime Minister. The submarine remains a strategic deterrent as the UK seeks to balance regional involvement with de-escalation.
On Friday, Britain approved US use of its bases for operations aimed at degrading missile sites threatening ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while reaffirming its commitment to avoid being drawn into a broader conflict. Starmer’s comments underline the government’s dual approach: maintaining military readiness while prioritizing diplomacy and national security.
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