Donald Trump has criticised Sir Keir Starmer for the UK's delay in allowing US forces to use British airbases to attack Iran. The US president told the Daily Telegraph that the UK “took far too long” to grant permission, adding that he was “very disappointed” in the Prime Minister over the delay and the Chagos Islands deal.
The UK initially withheld permission for US forces to use Diego Garcia and other bases due to legal concerns over the strikes, which killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, after Iran launched retaliatory attacks that hit a UK base in Cyprus, Starmer reversed the decision. Trump said the delay was unprecedented between the two countries and suggested Starmer was “worried about the legality”.
Trump also criticised the UK's agreement to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it a “very woke thing”. He said the UK should have retained ownership rather than giving it to “people that weren’t the rightful owners”. The deal, which Trump initially supported before changing his mind, is currently paused pending US agreement.
Regarding the military operation, Trump said it was “well ahead of schedule”, with all leadership targets eliminated in one day rather than the anticipated two to three weeks. He was vague about the ultimate goals, mentioning hopes for an Iranian uprising but also openness to talks with Khamenei's successors.
