Starmer chairs Cobra meeting after US-Israeli strikes on Iran

The UK did not participate in the strikes

The emergency committee Cobra involves ministers and officials and meets to co-ordinate the response of the British government.

Its purpose is to co-ordinate the actions in response to national or regional crises, or during overseas events with major implications for the UK.

The Cobra meeting about the US and Israeli strikes on Iran comes as explosions have been heard across multiple Iranian cities including the capital, Tehran, on Saturday.

A government spokesperson said that “Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution.”

“Our immediate priority is the safety of UK nationals in the region and we will provide them with consular assistance.”

“We do not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict”, they added.

The strikes, in which the UK did not participate in, came after negotiations to limit Iran's nuclear programme ended without an agreement this week.

Israeli’s military said that Iran has launched retaliatory strikes, as explosions were heard and attacks reported in several other countries in the region with US facilities.

The UK Foreign Office told British people in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates to immediately shelter in place following reports of missile attacks.

It also told UK nationals in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Oman to “remain vigilant” and take shelter if advised.

Explosions and air raid sirens have already been heard in Qatar's capital, Doha, which is host to a US military facility, while Qatar's defence ministry said it had intercepted Iranian missiles.

Bahraini state news also reported that the service centre of the US Navy's 5th Fleet based in the Gulf nation had been “subjected to a missile attack”.

The strikes are the start of “major combat operations”, according to US President Donald Trump, who called for the Iranian government forces to lay down their arms.

The situation has caused disruption to air travel, as many major airlines that serve the Middle East have diverted or cancelled flights over safety concerns.

British Airways has cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday, and Amman in Jordan on Saturday.