LONDON

The UK will not be drawn into a wider war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday, as tensions in the region continue.

Speaking at a news conference, Starmer said his government would continue working toward a swift resolution, stressing that the priority was to bring the fighting to an end.

He said the UK would work with its allies to develop what he described as a “viable collective plan” aimed at restoring freedom of navigation for ships operating near the Strait of Hormuz.

"We've already acted alongside other countries to release emergency oil stocks at a level that is completely unprecedented, but ultimately we have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the market," he warned.

'Sending UK troops into war is the most serious responsibility for any premier'

Starmer has also explained what his "plan" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz might look like.

"Let me be clear, that won't be, and it's never been envisaged to be a NATO mission. That will have to be an alliance of partners, which is why we're working with partners both in Europe, in the Gulf and with the US," he said.

"I do think that, working with others, including the US, is the way to go, forward. And I had a perfectly good discussion with President Trump about that yesterday," he added.

He was asked about how he would rank his relationship with Trump from zero to 10. Despite Trump's frequent criticism, Starmer said "it's a good relationship," adding they had "a good discussion yesterday about the Straits. We are strong allies; have been for decades."

"But it is for me to act in what I consider to be the best interest of Britain," Starmer noted. "If you're prime minister, you don't get to come back a week later and say -- oops I made a mistake about that war, can I back out of it now?"

Trump previously stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he does not want British aircraft carriers deployed in the Middle East. “We don't need people that join wars after we've already won,” he said.

He publicly criticized Starmer over his response to the conflict involving Iran and once said the British leader was “not Winston Churchill” while accusing him of damaging international relationships.

Starmer also defended his decision not to join an offensive against Iran, saying he had faced criticism from some for the stance but had stood by his principles.

“Sending UK troops into war is the most serious responsibility for any prime minister,” he said, adding that such a decision must only be taken on a legal basis and with a “properly thought-through plan.”

Energy prices, Mandelson appointment

The prime minister argued that ending the conflict would also have wider economic benefits.

“Ending war is the quickest way to reduce the cost of living,” he said.

He also announced steps his government would take to tackle the cost of living, including capping energy bills through the end of June, extending the fuel duty cap until September, and a £53 million ($70 million) package to support people exposed to rising heating oil prices.

Starmer said legal action will be pursued against oil companies if they are found to have violated the law, calling reports that companies have been canceling orders and then "jacking up prices" "completely unacceptable."

He was also asked if Trump wanted him to "rush through" the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador last year.

"Look, the process wasn't strong enough. And that's why, last year, I moved to strengthen the process and we'll strengthen it again. My reflection is the process wasn't strong enough," he noted.

Last week, the first set of government files related to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US were released, revealing that Starmer was warned of a potential “reputational risk” linked to the envoy’s association with the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson, the former British Cabinet secretary, has had his bail conditions lifted following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, though he remains under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

Mandelson, 72, was arrested Feb. 23 following allegations that while serving as a government minister, he passed on market-sensitive information to Epstein.