British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has firmly stated his opposition to joining the Iran war, following threats from US President Donald Trump to scrap a UK trade deal. “We’re not going to get dragged into this war,” Starmer told parliament, emphasizing that it is not in our national interest to join.
Trump’s threats come after he discussed altering an agreement with Britain that limits his tariffs’ impact on British goods. The president has also criticized Starmer’s policies and stated that the relationship strain would not affect King Charles III’s upcoming state visit to the US.
The trade deal, concluded last year, capped US tariffs at 10% on most British manufactured goods in exchange for further market access for American ethanol and beef. However, this advantage was weakened when Washington imposed a temporary 10% tariff on almost all imports from the UK.
Trump has accused Starmer of not providing support during times of need, particularly over the recent Iran conflict. The Labour government’s stance against joining the war has been reinforced by ministers like Finance Minister Rachel Reeves and Health Minister Wes Streeting, who have criticized Trump’s rhetoric as “incendiary” and “provocative.”