Donald Trump has described Britain’s aircraft carriers as ‘toys’ in his latest swipe at the UK.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, the US president said: ‘The British said ‘we’ll send our aircraft carriers’ – which aren’t the best aircraft carriers by the way, they are toys compared to what we have – ‘we’ll send our aircraft carrier when the war is over’. I said ‘that’s wonderful, thank you very much – don’t bother’.
Trump later added, ‘we don’t it, we don’t need them.’
The president’s remarks come after Downing Street previously rejected Trump’s claims that it offered to send aircraft carriers to the war.
Trump has continued his attacks on NATO allies – including Britain – for failing to assist in the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, as the conflict nears its one-month mark.
The US President previously said that Sir Keir Starmer is ‘no Winston Churchill’ while fuming at the Prime Minister’s reluctance to allow America to use British bases to launch attacks on Tehran.
Last week, the UK gave American forces the green light to run ‘defensive’ operations from its military sites, such as Diego Garcia.
Starmer also extended that to action, aiming to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz – amid mounting panic over choked off oil supplies.
However, the PM assured Cyprus that RAF Akrotiri will not be used for strikes.
Trump’s remarks on Thursday come as he threatened Iran with devastating attacks unless it accepts a 15-point White House peace plan, possibly through indirect talks brokered by Pakistan.
Pakistan’s top diplomat confirmed that those negotiations were ongoing as military activity continued to escalate.
Iran denies participating in any negotiations despite efforts by Egypt and other nations to assist, and has cemented its control over the vital Strait of Hormuz, using it as a pressure point for the world economy. Israel, meanwhile, says it will press ahead with more attacks.
In an online post, Trump insisted Tehran was ‘begging’ for a deal and warned of further military escalation if one is not reached.
‘They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!’ he wrote on Truth Social.
Since launching the war alongside Israel on February 28, Trump has vacillated among different stated objectives, including toppling the Islamic Republic, eliminating its disputed nuclear program and degrading its missile capabilities.
Now he’s focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passed before Iran effectively seized control of the waterway in response to the surprise U.S.-Israeli bombardment.
Israel says it still hopes to foment an uprising against Iran’s leaders.
Pakistan’s top diplomat, Ishaq Dar, said indirect talks between the United States and Iran are still ongoing, publicly acknowledging Pakistan’s role for the first time.
Pakistan, which borders Iran, is keen to restore regional stability and stem the war’s impact on energy prices. By stepping in as mediator, it positions itself as a useful U.S. partner.
It has also joined Trump’s Board of Peace, an initiative that grew out of the Gaza ceasefire.
Press TV, the English-language broadcaster on Iranian state television, said Iran has its own five-point proposal, which includes reparations and recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
This is a breaking story; more to follow.
