Trump threatens to 'punish UK with worse trade deal' over Iran war response
Starmer has refused to send in the Royal Navy to help with a US-led blockade in the Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump has "threatened to punish Keir Starmer with a worse trade deal" over the UK's response to the Iran war.
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The US President insisted that the UK was "not there" when he asked for support with his strikes on Tehran and assistance reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
In his most recent interview, Trump said the so-called special relationship between the US and the UK had "been better".
He continued: "We gave them a good trade deal. Better than I had to. Which can always be changed."
The US and the UK agreed the outlines of an "Economic Prosperity Deal" last May covering industries including cars, planes and agriculture but some aspects have yet to be agreed and implemented while a technology partnership between the two countries appears to have been paused.
Read more: Starmer and Macron to co-host Strait of Hormuz talks in Paris on Friday
The comments shared by the US President in a call with Sky News come after Starmer initially blocked American forces from using US bases to launch strikes before agreeing their use for defensive operations protecting allies in the region from Iranian retaliatory attacks.
He also declined to send the Royal Navy to help reopen the key Hormuz shipping strait while the war remains ongoing, through which a fifth of the world's oil flows.
The PM said the UK would not support Trump's latest attempt to stop "'any and all ships" passing through the Strait.
Sir Keir said he supports efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz "once the conflict ends."
He has been critical of the US President's language around the war in Iran, telling MPs he would "never" use Trump's language about "ending" Iranian civilisation.
The President also criticised the Labour government's policies around immigration.
He said: "Your country is being invaded by people from prisons, drug dealers, people from mental institutions.
Sir Keir faced criticism in Prime Minister's Questions earlier today over "delays" to planned defence spending increases.
Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the Prime Minister for promising the Defence Investment Plan would be published last autumn, but it is now due in the middle of April.
Read more: Chancellor to hold talks with US counterpart after strong criticism of Iran war
Sir Keir defended his position and referred to commitments he has already made to defence spending.
He told the House of Commons: "Last February, that was seven months after taking office, I took the decision to increase defence spending from 2.3 to 2.6% paid by a difficult decision on overseas aid.
"Last June, at the NATO summit, I committed to raising core defence spending to 3.5%."
Addressing his defence plans, he said: "The Strategic Defence Review is a 10-year blueprint for national security.
"The Defence Investment Plan will put that into effect. It will be published as soon as possible. We need to get it right.
"We inherited plans that were uncosted and undeliverable, and we're not going to repeat those mistakes."
It comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves is on her way to Washington to meet with the International Monetary Fund to discuss the fallout from the events in the Middle East.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described IMF forecasts predicting a global downturn, with the UK the worst hit major country, as a "small bit of economic pain."
He said he was more concerned about "long term" security, and said: "I wonder what the hit to global GDP would be if a nuclear weapon hit London".
He suggested the US-Israeli action against Iran had "removed the 'tail risk" of nuclear strikes against Western counties.