United States President Donald Trump threatened to scrap a key trade agreement with Britain over its refusal to join the Iran war.
Trump told Sky News on Wednesday that he was considering pulling out of the 2025 deal, which reduced tariffs on a wide range of British goods and expanded quotas for certain American exports.
The agreement had been regarded as a major achievement for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The U.S. president expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of support from London, saying the relationship between both countries had weakened.
“We gave them a good trade deal, better than I had to, which can always be changed,” Trump said.
He added that the UK had not been there when the U.S. needed its support.
The dispute comes after Starmer declined requests from Washington to assist in naval operations linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.
Responding, the British prime minister maintained that the UK would not be drawn into the conflict.
Addressing parliament, he said his position on the war remained unchanged despite mounting pressure.
“My position on the Iran war has been clear from the start. We are not going to get dragged into this war. It is not our war,” Starmer said.
He also dismissed Trump’s threat, insisting that Britain would act in its own national interest.
“I’m not going to change my mind. I’m not going to yield. It is not in our national interest to join this war, and we will not do so,” he added.
The exchange underscores growing strain in relations between the two allies, as differences over the Iran conflict begin to spill into trade and diplomatic ties.
