Donald Trump has once again targeted Keir Starmer, this time criticizing his hesitation to criticize Iran.

The American President questioned the status of the UK’s alliance with the US, hinting that America’s memory would be long when it comes to remembering who backed their efforts.

This criticism followed a tense phone conversation between Sir Keir and President Trump, during which Sir Keir reportedly indicated that the UK would not comply with a request to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz. France, Canada, and Australia have also declined to participate in such measures.

The Strait of Hormuz sees about 20% of the world’s oil supply pass through its waters, but Iran’s blockade has driven oil prices up and sparked fears of a global economic downturn.

Trump criticizes UK over delay sending ships to Strait of Hormuz 

In a further escalation, Trump connected his request for naval support in the Strait to broader issues like NATO’s future and backing for Ukraine.

However, UK ministers have downplayed Trump’s comments, describing them as mere “rhetoric,” potentially adding to the ongoing tensions.

The president has previously branded the PM ‘no Churchill’ for refusing to join initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran a fortnight ago. 

Speaking to the Financial Times after his call with Sir Keir, Mr Trump took aim at the Special Relationship again.

‘The UK might be considered the number one ally, the longest serving et cetera and when I asked for them to come, they didn’t want to come,’ he said. 

‘And as soon as we basically wiped out the danger capacity from Iran, they said, ”oh well we’ll send two ships”, and I said, ”we need these ships before we win, not after we win”. I’ve long said that Nato is a one-way street.’

President says US will ‘remember’ allies’ response

Mr Trump said: ‘It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there.

‘We have a thing called Nato,’ Trump said. ‘We’ve been very sweet. We didn’t have to help them with Ukraine… but we helped them. 

‘Now we’ll see if they help us. Because I’ve long said that we’ll be there for them but they won’t be there for us. And I’m not sure that they’d be there.’

He added: ‘If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of Nato.’

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Mr Trump said: ‘Whether we get support or not… I can say this and I said it to them – we will remember.’

The president previously insisted the US did not need any military assistance from allies such as Britain, accusing them of only turning up after the war was ‘won’. 

Trump questions whether Nato allies would honour Article 5

In the past Mr Trump has questioned whether Nato countries would stand by the Article 5 commitment to collective defence, even though the only time the provision has been invoked was in response to the September 11 attacks. 

Downing Street said ministers were ‘discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region’.

However, it appears Britain’s only immediate contribution to unblocking the strait will be autonomous underwater vehicles based in Bahrain which are untested in conflict situations.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told Times Radio: ‘There’s a lot of rhetoric, always, in this presidency.

‘Underneath that, there is a good and close relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. I’m confident that will continue. We speak to one another all the time.

‘But that doesn’t mean that we will always have to support every intervention and every action that the United States chooses to take.’

Starmer’s humbling phone call to Trump

Keir Starmer scrambled to save the special relationship last night after his public falling out with Donald Trump. 

He spoke to the US President after enduring a week of insults following his refusal to let US planes take off from the UK to attack Iran. 

They discussed military co-operation in the Middle East and the Prime Minister expressed his ‘heartfelt condolences’ during the 20-minute phone call for the deaths of six soldiers in the conflict – a total that increased to seven last night. 

But Sir Keir now also faces a battle on the home front as the Middle East crisis threatens his drive to cut the cost of living. He admitted last night that households were worried about how it will affect energy bills. 

In another dramatic day: Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei – son of assassinated Ali Khamenei – as its leader Israel warned it would hunt and kill whoever was in charge of the Islamic Republic.

Tehran’s streets were left like ‘rivers of fire’ after its oil depots were bombarded Iran retaliated by firing missiles into Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

Fears are growing that Britain will be hit by the highest wholesale gas prices in Europe, while oil prices could breach $100 a barrel within days after Iran effectively blocked the crucial Strait of Hormuz to tankers. 

Britain faces paying more for foreign gas because it has less stored than other European nations, with just 6,700GWh (gigawatt hours) in reserve – enough for just two days. 

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