Starmer Condemns Trump Over Threat To Iran

Keir Starmer has condemned Donald Trump over his threat to end civilisation in Iran unless it agrees a peace deal to end the war.

The US president warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” in an incendiary social media post last week.

A two-week ceasefire in the conflict was agreed less than two hours before Trump’s deadline for the Strait of Hormuz waterway to be reopened, meaning he did not go through with his threat.

But in his first public comments on the president’s post, Starmer made clear his unhappiness at the language he used.

Addressing MPs on the crisis, the prime minister said: “In relation to the language about destroying a civilisation, can I really be clear with this house – that was wrong.

“A threat to Iranian civilians in that way is wrong. These are civilians, let’s remember, who’ve suffered immeasurable harm by the regime in Iran for many, many long years, and that’s why they are words and phrases that I would never use on behalf of this government, which are guided by our principles and our values throughout all of this.”

Starmer’s comments are further evidence of how he and Trump’s relationship has deteriorated since the war began at the end of February.

The president has repeatedly attacked the PM over his decision to initially refuse permission for US jets to use RAF bases to attack Iran.

He has said Starmer is “not Winston Churchill” and even compared him to Hitler-appeasing 1930s prime minister Neville Chamberlain.

Meanwhile, Starmer has made clear he does not support the blockade Trump has imposed on ships coming in and out of Iranian ports.

However, the prime minister also rejected calls from Lib Dem leader Ed Davey for King Charles’ state visit to America later this month to be cancelled.

He said: “The relationship between our two countries is very important on a number of levels, and often what the monarchy is able to do through the bonds that they build is reach through the decades and a situation like this, and the purpose of the visit is to mark the 250th anniversary of the relationship between our country and the United States, and that’s why the visit is going ahead.”

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.