London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a scathing attack on former US President Donald Trump, branding his recent threats against Iran as "gratuitously offensive" and questioning the legality of joint US-Israeli military actions in the Middle East. The Labour politician, who has a longstanding feud with Trump, made the comments during an exclusive interview with The Mirror at a youth centre in Brixton, London.
Khan Criticises Trump's Language and Approach
Sadiq Khan expressed deep concern over Trump's inflammatory rhetoric, particularly his warning that "a whole civilisation will die" unless Tehran met his demands. The London Mayor stated, "I think it's, frankly, gratuitously offensive for the leader of the free world to talk about a civilization in this way." He emphasised that such language undermines efforts to achieve sustainable peace and unity.
Khan further criticised Trump's apparent mockery of Islam during a weekend rant where the former president referenced Allah in a profanity-laden tirade. "I'm not sure why he needs to be so offensive to the followers of the religion of Islam the way he does," Khan remarked, adding that this approach is counterproductive to establishing a permanent ceasefire.
Calling for Consistent International Standards
The London Mayor argued that potential unlawful actions by the United States and Israel in the Middle East should be criticised with the same vigour as Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. "We called it out when Russia did it in Ukraine. We've got to call it out when the USA and Israel does it in Iran," Khan asserted.
He specifically questioned the legality of attacks on civilian infrastructure, stating, "It can't be lawful, surely for civilian infrastructure to be attacked in the way the US is doing." Khan expressed worry about the impact on people across the region, including in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Lebanon, while emphasising the need to support allies.
Context of Recent Developments
Trump's threats came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the former president setting a deadline for Iran to make a deal. However, he ultimately stepped back from the brink, agreeing to a two-week ceasefire just hours before his ultimatum expired. Despite this temporary de-escalation, Israel has continued its bombardment of Lebanon, where it is battling Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group.
Khan's comments align with calls from Labour leader Keir Starmer and other world leaders who have demanded Israel end its assault on Lebanon and urged for the US-Iran ceasefire to become permanent. The London Mayor stressed the humanitarian imperative, saying, "It can't be right, surely, for innocent people to be losing their lives."
In his concluding remarks, Khan expressed hope that Trump would eventually recognise the responsibilities that come with the presidency. "I hope this president, at some stage, will realise the responsibility that comes with being the President of the United States of America," he stated, underscoring the need for diplomatic restraint and respect in international relations.
