US President Donald Trump has criticised the UK’s delayed response after ministers agreed to let America use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has stated the UK “should have acted a lot faster” in permitting America to utilise British bases for strikes on Iranian missile installations targeting the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s remarks followed ministers agreeing to allow the US access to British bases for striking Iranian sites threatening the Strait of Hormuz. Downing Street confirmed UK bases would now be available for US “defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships”.
Previously, the Government had only permitted the US to use British bases for targeting missile sites threatening British interests in the region. The decision to grant US access to bases for striking Iran emerged after Trump expressed he was “unhappy with the UK” and other European nations, accusing them of being “non-responsive” during the conflict.
Trump had also previously labelled NATO allies “cowards” for declining to provide warships to reopen the Strait, reports the Express.
Speaking to journalists outside the White House today, US President Donald Trump said: “It’s been a very late response from the UK. I’m surprised because the relationship is so good, but this has never happened before. They were really, pretty much our first ally, all over the world.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch responded to the decision on social media, describing the ministers’ move as “the mother of all U-turns”, whilst the Lib Dems argued “granting further permission for the US to use British bases must first have a Parliamentary vote”.
A Number 10 spokesperson stated: “They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
“They reaffirmed that the principles behind the UK’s approach to the conflict remain the same: the UK remains committed to defending our people, our interests and our allies, acting in accordance with international law and not getting drawn into the wider conflict. Ministers underlined the need for urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war.”
Earlier in the day, Iran’s foreign minister cautioned the UK during a telephone conversation with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper that allowing the US to utilise British bases is viewed as “participation in aggression”.
The Foreign Secretary has issued a warning to Tehran against targeting UK interests, after her Iranian counterpart indicated that Britain’s provision of military bases to the US is regarded as “participation in aggression”. She urged for the immediate restoration of freedom of navigation and repeated the UK’s demand to cease attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities.
Addressing the US receiving authorisation to utilise British bases for strikes on Iranian positions threatening the Strait of Hormuz, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge commented: “After weeks of dither and finger pointing, the Prime Minister has once again changed his mind and performed yet another screeching U-turn. The Prime Minister had the Navy’s only active minesweeper taken out of the Gulf a week before the war began.”
He further stated “Starmer is weak and indecisive”.




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