U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
According to Downing Street, the two leaders discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East and military cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom, including the use of British airbases for regional defence operations. Starmer also expressed condolences over the deaths of several U.S. service members killed during the ongoing crisis.
The call followed a week of sharp criticism from Trump, who accused the British government of failing to support the U.S. campaign against Iran strongly enough. The U.S. president said he was “not happy with the UK” and suggested Britain had tried to join the conflict only after Washington had already secured victory.
Trump also criticised Starmer personally, saying the British leader was “no Winston Churchill”, as tensions between the two allies became increasingly public.
The dispute began after Britain declined to take part in the initial U.S.-led strikes on Iranian targets. The British government said any decision to join military action must have a clear legal basis and a defined strategy.
Despite refusing to participate in the wider offensive campaign, Westminster later approved the limited use of British airbases for defensive operations supporting allied forces in the region. British fighter jets have also been deployed to intercept Iranian missiles and drones targeting allied countries.
Speaking on Sunday, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the prime minister’s approach, saying Starmer was right to prioritise Britain’s interests.
She said that while the United States remains one of the UK’s closest allies, the two countries will not necessarily agree on every foreign policy decision. Cooper added that Britain would continue providing defensive support when Iranian attacks threaten partner countries where British citizens are living.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese president Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran while Tehran continues to target Gulf countries.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
The United States has bombed Iran for an 11th consecutive night as the Pentagon says the war’s cost reach $37.5 billion. President Donald Trump threatens a heavy strike on the suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. Tehran warns that any attack could trigger a wider regional escalation.
Daniel Siad, a modelling scout whose name appeared in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home near Paris, French prosecutors said. He was 69.
Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi, takes charge at a pivotal stage of the war with Russia, facing mounting challenges including troop shortages, battlefield reform and the rapid evolution of drone warfare.
ASEAN foreign ministers opened the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila on 21 July, launching four days of talks that run until 24 July. The agenda includes South China Sea tensions, Myanmar’s conflict and growing U.S.-China rivalry.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand has renewed calls for an immediate de-escalation and permanent ceasefire in the Middle East while she warned that the humanitarian situation had become "quite grave". Anand also raised concern over tensions in the South China Sea.
Pakistan has asked the U.S. for a $10 billion exchange stabilisation facility, according to a source briefed on the matter. If approved, the funding would bolster the country's foreign exchange reserves and provide a major boost to its cash-strapped economy.
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