The UK is preparing an aircraft carrier before a possible deployment to the Middle East, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Royal Navy workers in Portsmouth are readying HMS Prince of Wales, the navy’s flagship, meaning it could be deployed more quickly if a decision is made to mobilise it to the region.

No decisions have been taken to deploy the aircraft carrier, the Guardian has been told. An MoD spokesperson said HMS Prince of Wales could also undertake other planned missions.

Crews have been alerted of a potential deployment to the Middle East, according to Sky News, who also reported that the vessel’s notice to move has been shortened from 10 days to five. The warship would need to be escorted by other vessels and a submarine.

If deployed, the aircraft carrier would join HMS Dragon, which is also being sent to the region. Conflict has broken out in the region after US-Israeli airstrikes, which killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with other senior leaders.

The MoD said RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets had continued to fly air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus to “defend British interests”. The US has also started using British bases for “specific defensive operations”, with a B-1 Lancer arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening. Three more followed on Saturday morning.

An MoD spokesperson said: “We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus.

“Since the strikes began, we’ve had British jets in the sky shooting down drones and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone-busting missiles.

“HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.”

Keir Starmer has faced criticism from the Conservatives for being slow to send warships and planes to the Middle East after the US and Israel. On Thursday, the prime minister announced the UK would be sending more fighter jets to the Middle East.

Two more Wildcat helicopters arrived in Cyprus on Friday, which are also able to shoot down drones. The MoD said on Saturday that a Merlin helicopter was being sent to the region to help with surveillance.

The airstrikes by the US and Israel and subsequent retaliatory missiles and drone strikes by Iran have led to British nationals being evacuated back to Britain.

Meanwhile, the second government-chartered flight landed at Gatwick at 12.30am on Saturday. More than 6,500 Britons have been brought back from the United Arab Emirates since the conflict began.

The Foreign Office said more than 160,000 British nationals had registered their presence in the Middle East with the department.