Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain will not support President Donald Trump’s proposed military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran. Speaking in a radio interview, Starmer emphasized that Britain’s priority is keeping the strategic waterway open and ensuring the free flow of trade, rather than escalating tensions.

Starmer declined to directly blame Trump for rising energy costs in Britain, instead pointing to Iran’s actions in the strait as the main driver of higher oil prices. At the same time, he avoided criticizing the American president’s broader role in the conflict, reflecting the delicate balance he is trying to maintain between resisting pressure to join military action and preserving close ties with Washington.

The stance has drawn domestic support in Britain, where there is little appetite for another Middle East conflict. Other European leaders have also rejected offensive military involvement, with Spain criticizing the blockade proposal and France calling for coordinated efforts to restore free navigation through the strait. Britain and France are working with other nations on plans for a defensive mission aimed at safeguarding shipping once fighting subsides.