UK 'not at war', minister confirms - as door left open for Britain to help Israel defend against Iran
In the past 24 hours, the prime minister confirmed UK assets, including jets, had been sent to the Middle East in response to the escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Chancellor Rachel Reeves says: "It does not mean that we are at war. And we have not been involved in these strikes or this conflict."
Reeves repeatedly urges de-escalation in the conflict, and says the PM is at the G7 meeting where ramping down tensions will be "front and centre".
However, she says the purpose of the UK increasing its presence in the Middle East is to protect its "important assets" there.
She says the UK hasn't this time been involved in shooting down weapons launched from Iran at Israel, as has previously been the case.
Trevor asks Reeves if the UK could get involved in the future, to which the minister says she is "not going to rule anything out at this stage".
'No time for the Iranian regime'
Asked if she, like the Israelis, wants to see a regime change in Tehran, the chancellor says she has "no time for the Iranian regime, for the suppression of, the repression of, their own people" - before reiterating her desire for de-escalation.
Reeves says Foreign Secretary David Lammy has spoken to his Iranian counterparts since the escalation of the conflict.
She goes on to say that the UK is not trying to "ramp up the rhetoric".
Oil price warnings
As ever, when things get more volatile in the Middle East, oil prices start to spike.
The chancellor says this is already happening and will have "consequences for people here in the UK".
She points out prices have gone up by just over 10% - although they are still lower than they were a few months ago.
Trevor asks about the Strait of Hormuz - the waterway between Iran and the Arabian peninsular that leads to Kuwait and is vital for global energy supplies.
Reeves says the government is keeping "an eye" on the situation and whether Iran could close the passage.
Asked how worried she is, the chancellor says situations like this are why it's important for the UK to develop domestic energy through things such as small nuclear reactors and renewables.