British Housing Minister Steve Reed said that U.S. President Donald Trump was expressing his personal position when he threatened to destroy Iranian energy facilities if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

In response to a question about Britain’s stance on Trump’s ultimatum, Reed said in a televised interview that “the American president is perfectly capable of expressing himself and defending what he says… but we will not be dragged into a war. We will protect our interests in the region, and we will work with our allies to de‑escalate the situation.