Former US President Donald Trump publicly rebuked UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for what he described as insufficient British backing for recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran and for a reported plan to send aircraft carriers to the region. On his social platform, Trump said the United States does not need allies to join a conflict after it has already been won, added that Britain was “finally giving serious thought” to deploying two carriers, and warned he would remember those who join late.
Starmer pushed back in Parliament by invoking the long-standing UK–US “special relationship,” while urging lawmakers not to fixate on Trump’s remarks. He noted that American planes are operating from British bases, British jets have shot down drones and missiles to protect personnel at joint facilities, and the countries exchange intelligence daily. Starmer defended his refusal to participate in strikes on Iran, saying he has not seen a lawful basis for such action.
The UK Ministry of Defence said on social media on March 7 that US forces had begun using British bases for specific defensive operations intended to prevent Iran from firing missiles into the region, an activity it said endangered British lives.
Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office that he was unhappy with what he called London’s lack of cooperation ahead of the strikes, describing the UK’s stance as uncooperative and accusing Starmer of damaging the relationship, while contrasting him unfavorably with wartime leaders.
The exchange comes amid a series of military actions and retaliatory strikes across West Asia and the Gulf. The Israel Defense Forces said the Israeli Air Force struck several fuel storage sites in Tehran it attributed to the IRGC, and earlier reported strikes on two major ballistic missile production sites in Parchin and Shahrud. The IDF described the targets as facilities linked to missile warhead explosive materials, components for missile engines, and research and production sites for advanced cruise missiles.
The wider security situation has had spillover effects in Gulf cities. Dubai authorities confirmed a Pakistani driver was killed in Al Barsha after debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle, and reported a minor incident involving a tower facade in Dubai Marina with no injuries.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing the IRGC, claimed a refinery in Haifa was struck by missiles identified as “Kheibarshekan.” Al Jazeera reported Hezbollah said it had fired missiles at the Haifa naval base and rockets at Kiryat Shmona.
Those incidents follow heightened tensions after a joint US–Israel strike on February 28 that was reported to have killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, a report that sparked fierce condemnation and retaliation from Tehran. In response, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allied targets across the region, including strikes or attempted strikes affecting Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, raising concerns about wider civilian risk and escalation.
This report is based on a syndicated feed and is published as received; the publisher assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.
