British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has placed his cabinet and top military and intelligence officials on high alert over a possible U.S. strike on Iran, the Financial Times reports . The decision comes amid growing concerns that President Trump could authorize an attack, potentially targeting Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility from the U.S.–UK base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Starmer convened a Cobra emergency meeting with ministers, defence chiefs, intelligence heads, and the U.S. ambassador to evaluate contingency plans to protect British assets in the Middle East. They deliberated over possible responses if Iran threatened UK interests, including authorizing U.S. forces to use Diego Garcia for strike operations.
While Starmer supports Israel’s right to self-defence, he is urging diplomatic de‑escalation to prevent a broader crisis with Tehran or jeopardize the UK’s embassy in Iran. Legal advice has reportedly warned that Britain could only engage defensively, with offensive involvement requiring Parliamentary approval.
Though no active military involvement has yet been confirmed, British Typhoon jets remain on standby in Cyprus, and embassy families in Israel are being moved, although no full-scale evacuation has been ordered. Starmer stressed that approving US use of Diego Garcia would require explicit agreement while emphasising a preference for peaceful de-escalation.
