BBC News Iran under attack: Trump slams Starmer as “no Churchill” over UK response to war | BBC News

US president Donald Trump has launched a deeply personal attack on the British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, over his initial refusal to let the US launch strikes on Iran from British bases.

Donald Trump told reporters: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with” and said the US relationship with the UK was “ruined”.

The US president said he was not happy with the UK even though Sir Keir eventually agreed the US could use the pacific base of Diego Garcia for strikes on Iranian missile facilities.

President Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain on Tuesday after Madrid prohibited the US from using bases on its territory to carry out attacks on Iran.

It came as the UK announced it is sending a Royal Navy destroyer, HMS dragon, to Cyprus, to help defend bases on island after they was targeted by Iranian drones.

Israel and the US have intensified their attacks on Iran, launching waves of strikes targeting command and control facilities, strategic state offices and missile launch sites.

Iran retaliated with hundreds more missile and drone attacks against Israel and across the region, targeting US military bases, embassies and civilian targets.

Israel has also launched more strikes in Lebanon, including in the capital Beirut.

Clive Myrie and Anna Foster present BBC News at Ten reporting by Sarah Smith, Chris Mason, Jonathan Beale, Jessica Parker, Duncan Kennedy, Colletta Smith, Jeremy Bowen, Merlyn Thomas and Orla Guerin.

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