Starmer tells Trump: UK is not going to be dragged into wider warfare on Iran
Sir Keir Starmer says the UK is working with allies on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz however is not going to be dragged into Donald Trump’s “wider war” on Iran.
The prime minister confirmed he’s speaking with different nations, together with European allies in addition to Canada’s Mark Carney in Downing Street on Monday, about army involvement to maintain the straits open amid recent warnings of hovering costs and gasoline rationing in Britain.
But he insisted the UK wouldn’t be a part of Israel and the US in launching offensive strikes Iran. He additionally didn’t decide to sending warships to the strait, as requested by President Trump on the weekend, a transfer which may escalate the disaster.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar17 March 2026 04:30
Trump lashes out at UK after Nato refuses to assist open Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump has lashed out on the UK for not actively supporting America’s mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr Trump had referred to as for the UK and different nations to ship warships to assist safe the Strait of Hormuz and claimed Nato faces a “very bad” future ought to its member states fail to assist.
The US chief stated Monday he was “not happy” with Britain and was left “very surprised” by Sir Keir Starmer’s unwillingness to contain Nato within the battle in opposition to Iran.
“I was not happy with the UK”, he stated. “I think they’ll be involved maybe, but they should be involved enthusiastically”.
Sir Keir Starmer had stated that the battle for the Strait of Hormuz “won’t be and it’s never been envisioned to be a Nato mission”.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar17 March 2026 04:28
Trump was ‘warned of doubtless Iranian retaliation’ on Gulf allies
President Donald Trump was warned that attacking Iran may set off retaliation in opposition to US Gulf allies, regardless of his claims that Tehran’s response got here as a shock, a US official and two sources acquainted with US intelligence experiences stated.
Pre-war intelligence assessments didn’t say Iran’s response was assured, nevertheless it was “certainly on the list of potential outcomes”, one supply stated, talking on situation of anonymity.
The president stated twice on Monday that Iran’s retaliatory strikes in opposition to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait have been sudden, first making the comment at a Kennedy Center board assembly on the White House.
“They weren’t supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East,” he stated.
“Nobody expected that. We were shocked.” Mr Trump’s assertion adopted different administration claims that haven’t been backed by US intelligence reporting, together with that Iran would quickly have a missile able to placing the US homeland and that it will want two to 4 weeks to construct a nuclear bomb and would then use it.
Those allegations, together with warnings of an imminent risk posed by Iran to the US and its forces within the area, have been among the many causes cited by Mr Trump and a few of his prime aides to justify his resolution to affix Israel in launching airstrikes in opposition to Iran on 28 February.
Mr Trump was additionally briefed forward of the operation that Tehran would doubtless search to shut the economically important Strait of Hormuz, in line with two different sources acquainted with the matter.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar17 March 2026 04:05
A plume of smoke rises over the Iraqi capital Baghdad
Alisha Rahman Sarkar17 March 2026 03:42
Asked about excessive fuel costs, US lawmaker says America has to destroy Iran’s ‘capability to kill us’
When requested by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about excessive fuel costs, US Senator Rick Scott stated Monday evening native time that America has to destroy Iran’s “ability to kill us”.
“I want oil prices to come down, but guess what? I want this country to be safe”, the Florida Republican stated.
When requested how lengthy Americans ought to be ready to pay excessive fuel costs amid the Iran warfare, Scott stated, “I have no idea how long this is gonna take, but the most important thing is we’ve got to destroy their ability to kill us”.
US President Trump claimed after the U.S.-Israeli strikes in opposition to Iran started greater than two weeks in the past that Iran posed an “imminent” risk to the American individuals due to its “nuclear ambitions” and pursuit of “developing the long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland”.
Rachel Dobkin17 March 2026 03:30
US embassy in Iraq hit by drone strikes
Iraqi air defences reportedly intercepted a wave of drones over the US embassy in Baghdad, whereas a outstanding lodge within the closely fortified Green Zone was struck by a drone.
Iraqi safety sources stated that it was “the most intense assault since the attacks began”.The strike on Monday night hit the highest ground of Al-Rasheed Hotel, inflicting injury however no casualties, two Iraqi safety officers advised the Associated Press.
Security sources stated that two Katyusha rockets had been intercepted that night close to the US embassy within the Green Zone.
Prior to the assault, the embassy had issued a recent safety alert to US residents in Iraq, warning that “Iran-aligned terrorist militias have repeatedly attacked the International Zone” in central Baghdad.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar17 March 2026 03:28
EU conferences will resume in Cyprus after drone strike: report
European Union casual councils will resume in Cyprus in April and June, Cyprus Energy Minister Michael Damianos stated Monday, in line with Reuters.
Early on within the Iran warfare, a drone hit a British air base in Cyprus. The drone was reportedly believed by officers to be Iranian-made and launched by Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran.
EU conferences in March have been both moved on-line or postponed after the assault within the Mediterranean nation.
“Things are all back to normal”, Damianos said, per Reuters. “All informal councils to be held in Cyprus between April and June will be held in the normal way”.
Rachel Dobkin17 March 2026 03:15
WATCH: Before and after images shows destruction of US bombing campaign in Iran
Rachel Dobkin17 March 2026 02:55
UAE says drone strike caused fire at Fujairah oil zone
The United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah government media office announced early Tuesday morning local time that a drone strike caused a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone,
The office confirmed there were no injuries reported and that officials are working to control the fire.
Rachel Dobkin17 March 2026 02:30
Afghan cricket player reacts to reported civilian casualties from Pakistani airstrikes: ‘Deeply concerning’
Afghan cricket player Rashid Khan has reacted to reported civilian casualties from Pakistani airstrikes.
“I am deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties as a result of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul. Targeting civilian homes, educational facilities or medical infrastructure, either intentional or by mistake, is a war crime.
“The sheer disregard for human lives, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is sickening and deeply concerning. It will only fuel division and hatred.
“I call upon the UN and other human rights agencies to thoroughly investigate this latest atrocity and hold the perpetrators to account. I stand with my Afghan people in this difficult time. We shall heal, and we will rise as a nation. We always do. Inshallah!”, Khan wrote on X.
Hamdullah Fitrat, Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman, claimed on X early Tuesday morning local time the Pakistani military had killed at least 400 people in an airstrike on a drug addiction hospital.
Pakistan has insisted its strikes against Afghanistan did not hit any civilian areas, per the Associated Press.
Rachel Dobkin17 March 2026 02:00
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-us-war-live-trump-strait-of-hormuz-us-embassy-b2939841.html