President Donald Trump has said they have “already won” the war in Iran as he took aim at Sir Keir Starmer’s response to the conflict.
While the President suggested the UK was their “once great ally” he implied the UK was dithering.
Sir Keir Starmer had granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases.
Meanwhile, a second Government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue.
President Trump was speaking following confirmation from the Royal Navy that officials were increasing the readiness of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, with the vessel prepared for possible deployment to the Middle East within five days.
He wrote on his Truth Social page: “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East.
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer.
“But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
Sir Keir and President Trump have clashed over the strikes
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GETTY
The Prime Minister also came under fire from Sir Tony Blair, who suggested Britain should have backed The White House from the very beginning of the escalating conflict.
Sir Tony added that he thought Mr Trump showed “a pretty fundamental understanding of what the stakes are.”
At a Jewish News event on Friday, Sir Tony told an audience: “I’m not saying anything to you that I wouldn’t and haven’t said to the Government. I think we should have backed America from the very beginning.
“They were asking us to use our bases for refuelling. It’s not like Vietnam. It’s not like, as we did in Iraq, sending in 1000s of British troops…So I think you’ve got to make the argument to the public that this American relationship matters. It matters particularly today.”
Smoke rises following an explosion amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran
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REUTERS
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Earlier today, Downing Street confirmed Sir Keir spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the scandal.
The spokesman said: “The Prime Minister began by reiterating his strong condemnation of Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Nato ally, Turkey. It was vital Iran ceased its aggression, the leaders agreed.
“The Prime Minister updated on the UK’s increased capability that had been deployed to further boost regional defences and stabilisation.
“The leaders also discussed deepening defence and security cooperation between the UK and Turkey in light of the increased regional instability.
“Both agreed their teams should continue the work towards a new bilateral defence and security agreement ahead of the Nato summit in Turkey in July.”
