PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer hinted at further involvement in the Middle East today as he said that he is working with allies on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

He said that Britain was working with countries, including European allies, on a “viable plan” to ease the global energy crisis caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Setting out his response in a Downing Street press conference Sir Keir said: “We’re working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impacts.”

He has faced demands from Donald Trump to send Royal Navy warships to help secure the vital shipping route for oil and gas which has been effectively closed to tankers by the war.

The US president has warned the future of Nato could be at stake unless allies agreed to his demand to provide ships.

Sir Keir said that he would not allow Britain to be drawn into a “wider war” in the Middle East after discussing the issue with Mr Trump on Sunday.

But he added that no final decisions had been made over potentially sending mine-hunting drones to the region rather than a warship.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Trump reiterated his call for allied assistance in the Strait of Hormuz, telling the paper: “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there.”

He has previously called for Britain, China, France, Japan and South Korea to send ships to secure the route.