Downing Street confirmed the Cobra meeting was under way on Saturday morning.
“Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution,” a government spokesperson said.
“Our immediate priority is the safety of UK nationals in the region and we will provide them with consular assistance.”
British people in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have been told by the UK Foreign Office to immediately shelter in place following reports of missile attacks.
UK nationals in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Oman have been told to “remain vigilant” and take shelter if advised to do so.
Following the strikes on Iran early on Saturday morning, explosions and air raid sirens have already been heard in Qatar’s capital, Doha, which is host to a US military facility. Qatar’s defence ministry said it had intercepted Iranian missiles.
Bahraini state news is also reporting the service centre of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet based in the Gulf nation had been “subjected to a missile attack”.
Donald Trump has described the strikes as the start of “major combat operations” and called for Iranian government forces to lay down their arms.
The US president urged Iranians to shelter until the operation had finished, adding: “When we are finished, take over your government.”
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) promised a “crushing” response to the US-Israeli attacks.
