Donald Trump has lashed out at Britain, saying the US “won’t be there to help you any more, just like you weren’t there for us” in an extraordinary rant against his allies over the Iran war.
The president told countries that did not take part in strikes against Iran to “get your own oil”, saying they should attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz themselves now that the US had “done the hard part”.
He also reignited his row with Sir Keir Starmer, saying Britain had “refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran” and needed to “start learning how to fight for yourself”.
The incendiary comments came moments before Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla are to go ahead with a state visit to Washington later in April, despite calls for the trip to be postponed or even cancelled because of the conflict in the Middle East.
Britain is to deploy extra troops to the Middle East, bringing the UK’s military presence in the region to around 1,000.
Defence secretary John Healey, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain – countries that have borne the brunt of Iran’s retaliatory action – said “Britain’s best” were helping to protect partners and allies in the region.
Mr Healey said that, in his recent discussions with Gulf leaders, “they underline how valued Britain’s defensive help is – and they also underline the fact that they judge us by our actions and not our words”.
Multinational efforts continue to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and “restore this economic lifeblood and artery in the world’s economy”, he added.
Iran has imposed a de facto blockade of the waterway, upending global oil and gas supplies and causing energy prices to surge. The Islamic Republic has allowed some ships to pass through in a “tollbooth” system, where vessels pay as much as $2m (£1.5m) per voyage, while others have been permitted to transit the strait subject to certain political and financial conditions.
Mr Trump’s outburst came after he reportedly told senior aides he was considering withdrawing from the conflict without a plan in place to reopen the waterway. That would leave Tehran in control of the vital shipping lane, prolonging economic chaos around the world.
On his Truth Social platform, the US president wrote: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil! President DJT”.
Later, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth hit out at the Royal Navy, saying that other countries “ought to be prepared to step up on [unblocking] this critical waterway”.
He told a press conference: “It is not just the United States navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.”
Earlier on Tuesday, an Iranian drone attack set alight an oil tanker off the coast of Dubai. The fire, on the Kuwait-flagged Al-Salmi, which was carrying 2 million barrels of oil valued at more than $200m, was brought under control.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir chaired a Cobra crisis committee to consider the impact on British households and the wider economy.
Costs for homes reliant on heating oil, which is not covered by a broader energy-price cap, have already soared, prompting ministers to announce a £53m package of support for customers.
Sir Keir has previously promised to keep plans for a rise in fuel duty from September “under review in light of what’s happening in Iran”.
It is not the first time that President Trump and Sir Keir have been at loggerheads during this war. Within days of the conflict starting, the PM dramatically U-turned to allow the US permission to use RAF bases to tackle the threat from Iran for the “limited specific defensive purpose” of protecting British and US allies across the Middle East.
Within weeks, President Trump said he was “not happy” with the UK, asserting that it “should be involved enthusiastically” in efforts to reopen the strait.
He also said Sir Keir was “no Winston Churchill”and later branded Nato allies, including the UK, “cowards”.
Poll suggests SNP could win 62 Holyrood seats with Reform in second
This ‘US Invasion’ video in the Middle East is fake | Debunked
Iran recruits children as young as 12 to ‘defend the homeland’ in new campaign
Pope Leo urges Trump to end the Iran war in a rare direct appeal
Who will prevail in stand-off between Labour and striking doctors?
UK sends more troops to Middle East to defend allies against Iran’s attacks
