UK Defends Decision to Skip Iran Strikes as Trump Publicly Criticizes Starmer Over War Support

Last week, the United States and Israel struck key military targets in Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other government leaders. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting U.S. forces. Britain took no part, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer blocking the U.S. from using its bases for the initial strikes, citing international law concerns. Trump publicly criticized Starmer on Saturday, writing that the U.K. was "finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers" but that America no longer needed them. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper defended Starmer on Sunday, stating that Britain's decisions were made in the U.K.'s national interest alone. Despite the dispute, Trump and Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday, with the U.S. now using RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for limited defensive operations.