Sir Keir Starmer has signalled that he would support Donald Trump using military action to “deal with” Iran, as US forces continue to build in the Middle East.
The US president has ramped up pressure on Iran in recent weeks, sparking concerns that he may decide to renew the conflict following strikes last summer.
Mr Trump said on Wednesday a “massive armada” had been dispatched to the Middle East and warned Tehran must “come to the table” or “the next attack will be far worse”.
Mr Trump’s threats of a renewed attack on Iran come amid a brutal crackdown on government protesters and the US president’s demands for a nuclear deal.
When asked on Friday if any US strike on Iran would have his backing, the prime minister said: “I am saying we support the goal and we are talking to allies about how we get to that goal.”
On his visit to China, Sir Keir said the repression of demonstrators in Iran was “grotesque” and “that is where our focus is”.
“The goal or the aim here is that Iran shouldn’t be able to develop nuclear weapons and that is hugely important and, of course, we need to deal with the fact they are repressing protesters, killing protesters,” he told the BBC.
“It is grotesque what is happening so that is where our focus is and we are working with allies to that end.”
As tensions continue to simmer between Washington and Tehran, Mr Trump warned that Iran must “come to the table” to make a “fair and equitable deal” including abandoning its nuclear weapons programme, or “the next attack will be far worse”.
Within the country, thousands of people have been killed in recent weeks as the Iranian authorities have responded to protests in cities across the country with a brutal crackdown.
The numbers of those who have died and been injured are not easy to estimate because of an ongoing internet blackout in Iran.
US-based organisation Human Rights Activists in Iran, also known by the initials of its news agency HRANA, believes the number of confirmed deaths is 6,126, of which 5,777 were protesters.
In response, the EU announced earlier this week it would add the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organisations – a move which prompted renewed calls for the UK to do the same.
The then home secretary Yvette Cooper announced last May that powers would be created to proscribe state-backed groups if they are deemed to pose a threat to Britain after recommendations by terror watchdog Jonathan Hall KC.
Government sources have said the proposed laws will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows, but have not been drawn on which specific groups might be banned.
Downing Street refused to be drawn on whether serious consideration had been given to proscribing the IRGC in particular when asked by journalists on Friday.
“It’s the long-standing position of successive governments that we don’t comment on matters related to proscription,” a No 10 spokesperson said.
The official said the UK was prepared to impose more sanctions if the crackdown persists and “continues to work with our international partners to tackle the threats posed by Iran”.
Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel on Thursday called on the government to take action against the group.
“The brutality of the Tehran regime is an affront to humanity. Thousands slaughtered, many more injured and tortured, and show trials continuing, all while Iran sponsors terrorism and threatens regional security,” she said.
“The Labour government’s silence on the IRGC is appalling. We have said that we would work with them to bring forward the legal and legislative mechanisms for the UK to take action.
“Britain must stand up for the Iranian people and confront this vile regime with strength and resolve.”
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