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Sir Keir Starmer has defended the decision not to join in the US-Israeli strikes on Iran at the weekend, after Donald Trump said he was “very disappointed”.

“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That is what I’ve done, and I stand by it,” he said.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the US president said Starmer “took far too long” to change his mind to allow them to use bases such as the Chagos Islands to conduct strikes.

He said: “That’s probably never happened between our countries before.

“It sounds like he was worried about the legality.”

Other MPs have called on Starmer to fully support Trump’s action against Iran, after an attack on a Royal Air Force airfield in Cyprus where an “unmanned drone” hit the runway at RAF Akrotiri.

Around 300,000 Britons are believed to be in countries targeted by Iran, with 102,000 registered with the Foreign Office for updates as officials examine all options, including a potential mass evacuation.

Dubai plane to London’s Heathrow airport carrying stranded UK national takes flight
An Etihad Airways flight EY67, flying to London’s Heathrow airport and likely to be carrying stranded UK nationals, has departed from the United Arab Emirates capital.

It is expected to land at 7.14pm at Terminal 4 of the west London airport.

Larges areas of airspace remained closed across the Middle East amid the intensifying conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the Government is “looking at all options to support our people” as a small number of flights departed from Abu Dhabi.

He told the Commons: “We’re asking all British citizens in the region to register their presence so we can provide the best possible support and to monitor the Home Office travel advice, which is being regularly updated.

“Across much of the region, airspace remains closed, and local authorities are advising individuals to shelter in place.

“The situation on the ground may remain challenging for some time, so we’re sending rapid deployment teams to the region to support our British nationals on the ground.

“And we’re in close contact with the travel industry and governments in the region, including with our friends in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), given the concentration of British nationals in that country, and we’re looking at all options to support our people.

“We want to ensure that they can return home as swiftly and safely as possible.

Brits advised agaisnt travel to Jordan
Britons are now being advised against “all but essential travel to Jordan”, as the situation in the Middle East continues to escalate.

The Foreign Office updated its travel advice for the country on Monday.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website now reads: “FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to Jordan.

“FCDO continues to advise against all travel to within 3km of the border with Syria.”