Nigel Farage today questioned whether Donald Trump has an ‘exit strategy’ for his Iran war as he warned about the ‘risk’ of blockading the Strait of Hormuz.
The Reform UK leader seemed to distance himself from Mr Trump, who he describes as a ‘friend’, over the US President’s increasingly erratic actions in the Middle East.
Mr Trump has vowed to stop tankers from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and gas shipping lane, in response to the failure of peace talks with Iran.
He has claimed the American military will start ‘blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz’ from 10am US Eastern Time, 3pm in the UK.
Speaking at a press conference in London on Monday morning, Mr Farage warned a blockade between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman ‘does not come without risk’.
He suggested Mr Trump was trying to get China – which buys more than 80 per cent of Iran’s shipped oil – to ‘start pressuring the Iranians’ to agree to US demands.
But the Reform leader added: ‘I don’t know where this war ends’. He continued: ‘The exit strategy might not have been as clearly thought through as one would wish.’
Yet, despite the chaotic Middle East crisis and the US President’s frequent social media rants, Mr Farage dismissed concerns that Mr Trump, who turns 80 in June, is suffering from ‘cognitive decline’.
Mr Trump has said ‘other countries will be involved with this blockade’ and told Fox News ‘the UK and a couple of other countries are sending mine sweepers’ to the Strait.
But Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK will not get dragged into the Iran war as he refused to support Mr Trump’s blockade.
Asked for his own view on the US President’s action, and whether the UK should be involved in the blockade, Mr Farage said: ‘I’m pleased we’re at least sending mine sweepers, but we can’t get involved beyond that.
‘We can’t get involved – we haven’t got a navy. Even HMS Dragon, which took us three weeks and one day to get to Cyprus to protect a British sovereign base, is now back in dock with failure.
‘Even if we wanted to help with the blockade, we do not have the means to do so. This is an utter humiliation for our country.
‘It should be the biggest wake up call we frankly ever had in the entire history of the country on defence.’
The Reform leader added: ‘As for the blockade itself, well history shows they can work, they can be successful.
‘We certainly operated a very effective blockade throughout 1917 and 1918 and it worked. But this does not come without risk.
‘I’m guessing what Trump is trying to do is to get China to start pressuring the Iranians. I think that’s the game of chess that we’re seeing here.
‘I understand it, but I don’t know where this war ends. If they have stopped Iran having a nuclear weapon then that’s good.
‘But it does appear to feel that the exit strategy might not have been as clearly thought through as one would wish.
‘But I don’t know, I’ve not had conversations with the President.’
Mr Farage was also quizzed about Mr Trump’s attack on Pope Leo, who has strongly criticised the Iran war.
The Reform leader said he hadn’t seen the US President’s social media comments about the pontiff, but added: ‘No tirade he (Mr Trump) puts out would surprise me.’
‘I think the Pope, the Church of England, any religious leader should be open to mockery, cartooning, criticism,’ he continued.
‘I’m not going to join criticism, I’m not going to condemn what Trump has said – I’m just not going to get involved.’
Amid the row with the Vatican, Mr Trump sparked further controversy by later posting an AI-generated image seemingly depicting himself as Jesus Christ.
Asked if this was evidence that Mr Trump might be suffering from ‘cognitive decline’, Mr Farage said: ‘He’s 80 in a few weeks’ time. He has a very unusual way of operating.
‘Let’s go back 10 years – people were asking that question 10 years ago. There were Democrats screaming 10 years ago that the 25th amendment should be moved in Congress and those same voices are saying the same things now.
‘I don’t think he’s changed very much at all, which some people like and a lot of people don’t.’
