London prepares for possible US attack on Iran, Starmer holds emergency talks

(Patria) - UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has put his cabinet on standby for a potential US military attack on Iran, just a day after stating that President Donald Trump had given no indication of direct US involvement in the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, Al Arabiya reported.

According to the Financial Times, senior British officials described the situation as "serious and unstable." Talks within Starmer's team reportedly included the possibility of Trump ordering an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities using the joint US-UK airbase Diego Garcia.

The potential for a US attack was discussed during a meeting of the emergency committee in Whitehall on Wednesday, the FT reported, citing officials briefed on the talks.

Also on Wednesday, Starmer held a conversation with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in which both leaders stressed the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East.

"Emphasising the deep defence and security relations between the two countries, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK's support for Qatar, and the leaders discussed how both countries can further support regional stability," Starmer's spokesperson said.

Starmer's tone regarding the situation marks a sharp shift from comments made at the G7 summit in Canada on Tuesday, where he told reporters that "nothing" Trump had said indicated he was preparing to intervene in the conflict.

However, British officials have since acknowledged that Trump was unlikely to reveal his true intentions during a dinner with Western leaders and described the White House's approach to the crisis as an "iterative process."