While taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be
drawn into the wider war, whether to commit British troops to military action. Is the
most serious responsibility for any Prime Minister. I have been attacked by
some. For my decision not to join the offensive against Iran.
But at every stage, I've stood by my principles. Principles which I held just as
strongly when it came to the debate about the Iraq war in 2003. Principles
which I believe. Are shared by the British people. That our decision should be based
on a calm, levelheaded assessment. Of the British national interest.
And that if we are to send our servicemen and women, Into harm's way. The very
least they deserve. is to know that they do so . On a legal basis.
And with a proper thought through plan. Now there are others who would have made a
different decision two weeks ago. They would have rushed the UK headlong into this war.
Without the full picture of what they're sending our forces into. And without a plan to
get us out. That is not leading. It's following.
My leadership is about standing firm. For the British interest. No matter the
pressure. And I believe time will show that we have the right approach. We are working with
others to come up with a credible plan for the Straits of Hormuz to ensure that we can
um reopen um shipping and passage through the Strait. Um, let me be clear, that won't
be, and it's never been envisaged to be a NATO mission. Um, that'll have to be an alliance of
partners, which is why we're working with partners both in Europe, in the Gulf and with
the US. It's important that we continue that it is not straightforward, and you can see that
historically when there have been other conflicts that have affected the straits, but I
do think that working with others including. The US is the way to go forward, and I had a
perfectly good discussion with President Trump about that yesterday, and of course, as you'd
expect, I mean, we are talking to the US at all levels all the time and whether it's the US,
whether it's Europe, whether it's Gulf partners, we are trying to pull together both
partners and a plan in relation to the straits .