Keir Starmer said Britain would not be drawn into the Iran war or support a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, despite mounting pressure.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Starmer stressed that reopening the key waterway remained the government’s priority.
“We’re not supporting the blockade,” he said, adding that it was vital to restore full access to the Strait.
“It is, in my view, vital that we get the Strait open and fully open, and that’s where we’ve put all of our efforts in the last few weeks and we’ll continue to do so,” he said.
Starmer confirmed that Britain has minesweepers in the region, noting their role is focused on ensuring safe passage, though he declined to discuss operational details.
He also acknowledged “considerable pressure” on Britain to join the conflict but said any such move would require both a “clear lawful basis” and a “clear thought-through plan”.
“My decision has been very clearly that whatever the pressure … we’re not getting dragged into the war,” he said.
The comments came as the United States Central Command announced it would begin a blockade of maritime traffic linked to Iran following failed talks over the weekend.
The U.S. military said the blockade would apply to vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, while ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian destinations would not be impeded.
Donald Trump also warned that U.S. forces would intercept vessels that had paid tolls to Iran.
“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” Trump wrote, adding that any Iranian attack on U.S. forces or civilian vessels would be met with force.
(with inputs from Reuters)
