UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “not going to yield” to pressure from the US president to join the conflict in Iran.
It comes after Donald Trump told Sky Newsthat when the US asked the UK for help “they were not there”. He also suggested the tariff agreement with the UK “can always be changed”.
Sir Keir told the Commons: “I’m not going to change my mind, I’m not going to yield, it is not in our national interest to join this war and we will not do so.”
Trump has persistently criticised the prime minister after he refused to join offensive measures in the US-Israel war against Iran when it began in late February.
Responding to a question from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey about Trump’s latest comments, Sir Keir told Prime Minister’s Questions: “My position on Iran has been clear from the start, we’re not going to get dragged into this war.”
“It is not our war, a lot of pressure has been applied to me to take a different course and that pressure included what happened last night.”
“I’m not going to change my mind, I’m not going to yield, it is not in our national interest to join this war and we will not do so. I know where I stand.”
In his interview with Sky News, Trump was asked how he would describe the special relationship between the US and the UK. He said: “It’s the relationship where when we asked them for help, they were not there. When we needed them, they were not there.
“When we didn’t need them, they were not there. And they still aren’t there.” Asked how he would describe the “special relationship”, Trump responded: “With who?”
Pressed further on the relationship, Trump said it had “been better, but it’s sad”.
“And we gave them a good trade deal. Better than I had to. Which can always be changed.”
In May last year, the UK became the first country to agree a tariff agreement with President Trump after his return to office, cutting some import taxes on cars, aluminium and steel.
The relationship between the two countries’ leaders has in recent weeks shown signs of strain over the Middle East. Trump has frequently criticised Sir Keir over the prime minister’s repeated refusal to sign off direct military involvement in the conflict, labelling him “no Winston Churchill”.
The prime minister’s spokesperson said the UK continues to have “a close relationship” with the US despite Trump’s latest comments.
“The special relationship with the US exists on multiple levels, and we have a close relationship with the USA, which spans trade, diplomacy, national security, culture, and beyond. It’s far bigger than any individual issue,” the spokesperson added.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has expressed frustration over the war, calling it a “mistake”.
Speaking at an event in Washington DC, she said she was “not convinced this conflict has made the world a safer place”.
She also told The Mirror on Tuesday: “This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve.”
In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF cut its estimate for UK growth this year to 0.8%, from the 1.3% prediction made in January before hostilities began.
The IMF suggested the UK, as a net importer of energy, remained sensitive to rapid rises in energy prices.
Earlier in the interview, Trump said he “liked Starmer” but described the UK government’s immigration and energy policies as “insane”.
However, he said the state of their relationship would not “at all” overshadow the upcoming royal state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
“I’ve known the King for a long time, and he’s not involved in that process,” Trump said.
Asked what he was most looking forward to ahead of late April’s royal visit, he responded: “Just being with him. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s wonderful.”
By BBC News
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