Trump Criticizes British PM Over Delayed Access to Military Base for Iran Strikes

President Trump expressed frustration with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially refusing U.S. access to the Diego Garcia air base for strikes against Iran. Starmer eventually granted permission for "defensive" operations, but Trump said the delay was unprecedented between the two allies.

LONDON, March 2 – President Donald Trump expressed strong frustration with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over delays in granting the United States access to a crucial military base for operations against Iran, according to an interview published in the Daily Telegraph on Monday.

The president told the British publication he felt “very disappointed” after Starmer initially refused to allow American forces to use the Diego Garcia air base for strikes targeting Iranian positions. While Britain eventually reversed course Sunday evening, approving the base’s use for what Starmer termed “defensive” operations against Iranian targets, Trump criticized the timeline of the decision.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Trump said the delay was excessive and unprecedented. “That’s probably never happened between our countries before,” the president stated, suggesting Starmer’s hesitation stemmed from legal concerns about the military action.

The president argued that immediate approval should have been granted for American operations at Diego Garcia, a strategically vital joint U.S.-British facility located in the Indian Ocean. Trump justified this position by noting Iran’s responsibility for casualties affecting British citizens, telling the newspaper Iran had killed “a lot of people from your country.”

The discussion comes after joint American-Israeli military operations against Iran resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday. Britain did not participate in those strikes.

Military tensions have escalated since Saturday’s operations began, with Iran launching missile attacks against Gulf nations. On Sunday, an Iranian-manufactured drone struck Britain’s RAF Akrotiri installation in Cyprus, though officials reported minimal damage and no injuries.

Trump described the eventual access to Diego Garcia as “useful” for future American military operations, while also expressing criticism of Starmer’s recent diplomatic agreement regarding the Chagos Islands, where the Diego Garcia base is situated.