Keir Starmer insists the UK will not be dragged into the Iran war despite Trump’s threats to scrap a bilateral trade deal
2-MIN READ2-MINAgence France-PressePublished: 10:35pm, 15 Apr 2026British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday said he would not “yield” to pressure to join the Iran war after US President Donald Trump threatened to scrap a UK trade deal.
“We’re not going to get dragged into this war. It is not our war,” Starmer told parliament.
“I’m not going to change my mind. I’m not going to yield. It is not in our national interest to join this war,” the Labour leader added.
In a phone interview with Sky News, Trump threatened to alter an agreement struck with Britain that limits the impact of his US tariffs blitz.
Trump, who has repeatedly slammed Starmer’s policies, said strains in the relationship with the Nato ally would “not at all” negatively affect King Charles’ state visit to the United States this month.
In reference to the royal trip, Starmer told parliament that the two nations’ “long-standing bonds … are far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office at any particular time”.
