LONDON

The British prime minister on Monday reiterated that the UK is not "getting dragged" into Middle East conflict, citing national interest.

"I will always make decisions that are in the national interest. It’s why we aren’t getting dragged into the Middle East conflict, and why we are fighting to protect your living standards," Keir Starmer said through US social media company X.

Pressing opposition parties over their stance on the ongoing Iran war, he said the Labour party government responds with "hope and pride."

Last week, Starmer said that there is a "clear difference" in opinion between him and US President Donald Trump.

"My own view is that a lot of what is said and done has been to put pressure on me to change my mind, but I'm not going to do so," he told Sky News.

Meanwhile, the prime minister will chair an emergency COBRA meeting Tuesday on the Iran war.

He is also expected to hold a roundtable with energy executives later Monday.

His remarks came amid turmoil in ties between the two transatlantic allies as the US president renewed his criticism of the UK for refusing to allow the US military access to British bases for the US and Israel's initial strike on Iran on Feb. 28.

The UK eventually allowed them access for "defensive" action as Iran fired missiles and drones all over the Gulf, but Starmer has since stressed that the UK will not join the Iran war.

Regional escalations have continued to rage since Israel and the US launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.