The UK shares America’s assessment of a “heightened threat” of attacks by Iran, Jeremy Hunt said Thursday, as he tried to bring an end to days of transatlantic division over the issue.

The government has raised the threat level for British troops and diplomats in Iraq and reviewed security arrangements at UK embassies in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The US had already pulled many diplomats out of its embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan out of fear of attacks by Iranian-backed Shia militias.

Britain did not go that far and UK diplomats remain at their posts in Iraq. But the raised threat level appeared to be a sign that the US and UK positions were converging.

“We share the same assessment of the heightened threat posed by Iran. As always we work closely with the US,” said Mr Hunt, the foreign secretary.