President Trump has condemned UK Prime Minister Starmer for his initial reluctance to allow U.S. warplanes to launch attacks against the Iranian regime from British bases. Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday alongside German Chancellor Merz, Trump stated that the decision forced American fighter jets to fly “many extra hours.” He added, “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” referring to Starmer.
Starmer has since agreed to permit U.S. military use of British bases for “defensive” strikes against Iranian ballistic missile sites. His government confirmed on March 1 that the approved operations are limited to preventing Iranian missile launches, aligning with the administration’s non-escalation policy. Joint Israeli-American military operations continue against Iran, with U.S. officials reporting over 2,000 targets struck since Operation Epic Fury began early Saturday morning.
