Trump 'very disappointed' with UK's Starmer for initially blocking use of air bases, Telegraph says


U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shake hands during a press conference following their meeting at Chequers, near Aylesbury, Britain, September 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

LONDON, March ⁠2 (Reuters) - Donald Trump said he ⁠was "very disappointed" with British Prime ‌Minister Keir Starmer for not allowing the U.S. to use the Diego Garcia ​air base to carry ⁠out strikes on ⁠Iran, the Daily Telegraph quoted the ⁠U.S. ‌president as saying in an interview.

Britain had initially ⁠denied the U.S. permission to conduct ​air ‌strikes from its bases, but ⁠on Sunday ​evening Starmer said he was accepting a request for their ⁠use in any "defensive strikes" the ​U.S. wanted to make against Iranian targets.

Trump told the British newspaper ⁠on Monday that it took "too long" for Starmer to change his mind.

"That's probably never happened between ​our countries before," ⁠he told The Telegraph, adding: "It sounds ​like he was ‌worried about the legality."

(Reporting ​by Sarah YoungEditing by William Schomberg and William James)

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