UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warns the Iran war will "affect the future of our country" but insists Britain is "well placed" to weather the storm as the conflict hits the economy and pushes up fuel and energy costs for consumers.
Starmer sought to reassure Britons that there would be a "long-term plan" in place to emerge a "stronger and more secure nation" amid widespread concerns about the impact of the crisis on the cost of living.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a meeting of international leaders to "assess all viable diplomatic and political measures" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, he said, as Tehran's stranglehold on the key shipping route has seen oil and gas prices soar.
At a media conference at Downing Street on Wednesday, Starmer said he was not prepared to let the British people to relive the energy shocks of the 1970s.
"I know that this is causing huge concern," he said.
"People turn on their televisions, they look at their screens, they see explosions, infrastructure blown up, aggressive rhetoric.
"They worry that the UK will be dragged into this. We won't."
He told the televised news conference that "no matter how fierce this storm, we are well-placed to weather it" and "we have a long-term plan to emerge from it a stronger and more secure nation".
Britain would also push forwards with its pursuit of closer ties with the EU following the oil crisis, he said, as the trans-Atlantic relationship came under strain amid US President Donald Trump's repeated attacks on allies for the extent of their involvement in the conflict.
Trump has said he is considering whether to pull America out of NATO and has suggested the UK and other countries that did not take part in strikes against Iran should secure the Strait of Hormuz themselves and "go get your own oil".
Asked about the remarks on Wednesday, Starmer said he would continue to act in the British national interest "whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise".
The prime minister defended NATO as "single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen" and said Britain remained fully committed to the bloc.
Starmer has faced calls to ease the cost of living, including from opposition critics who have demanded measures should be taken to cut energy bills and petrol costs.
The Labour government has indicated it will not provide a blanket energy bailout for households, instead focusing help if it is needed on the poorest.
Fuel excise is frozen until September and a scheduled increase is under review.
The finance minister will meet supermarket bosses and regulators on Wednesday to discuss the impact on consumers.
The extent of the economic disruption could depend on Trump's approach to the Strait of Hormuz.
He has indicated he is prepared to walk away from the military campaign he started with Israel against Iran without securing the reopening of the vital maritime choke point.