US-Israel attack Iran | 'Pandering to Muslim voters': Trump criticises UK PM Starmer for not joining strikes against Iran

US President Donald Trump on Monday in a telephonic interview with the British Newspaper The Sun expressed his disappointment over the decision by the United Kingdom not to join the US in strikes against Iran alleging that Starmers decision comes so as to back the voters of Islamic faith in the countryThe US President suggested to the Sun that Keir Starmer is pandering to Muslim voters by not backing the American strikes in Iran adding that Britain is not such a recognisable country anymoreReferring to Starmer Trump was quoted as saying He has not been helpful I never thought Id see that I never thought Id see that from the UK We love the UKAs per The Sun when asked about accusations that the UK PM was pandering to Muslim voters for political reasons the President said it could beHe added London is a very different place with a terrible Mayor You have a terrible Mayor there some terrible people But its a very different placeThe transatlantic fallout comes after UK PM Keir Starmer on Monday in an oral statement to the House of Commons on Iran said The United Kingdom was not involved in the initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran That decision was deliberate We believe that the best path for the region is through a negotiated settlement one in which Iran agrees to abandon its aspiration to develop a nuclear weapon and ceases its destabilising activities across the Middle East That has been the longstanding position of successive British governmentsHe added President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to join the initial strikes But it is my duty to judge what is in Britains national interest and that is the judgement I made I stand by itStarmer criticized the actions of Iran in his remarks calling it a threat to UKs partners interests and alliesHe further told the house that US had requested for permission to use British bases and affirmed that the bases are limited to defensive purposes hence UK had joined American offensive operationsThe United States requested permission to use British bases for that specific limited defensive purpose They have the capabilities required to prevent Iranian missiles from killing civilians British nationals or our allies in countries that played no part in the initial strike To be clear the use of British bases is strictly limited to agreed defensive purposes The UK has not joined US offensive operations Our action is rooted in the principle of collective selfdefence of longstanding friends and in the protection of British lives We have published a summary of our legal position which sets this out clearly We will keep this decision under reviewThe developments come as a fullscale conflict erupted in West Asia involving the United States Israel and Iran following a major military offensive launched on February 28 In a coordinated operation known as Operation Epic FuryRoaring Lion US and Israeli forces carried out largescale air and missile strikes across Iran targeting key military sites nuclearrelated infrastructure and leadership compoundsIn response Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region including Israel Bahrain Kuwait Qatar the United Arab Emirates and Jordan further widening the conflict and heightening risks for civilians and expatriates alikeWorld leaders and international bodies are currently urging deescalation as the risk of a wider regional conflict grows though fighting continues without a clear end in sightThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever