King Charles would have probably helped with military strikes against Iran, says Trump

Donald Trump has said Britain’s King Charles “would have probably helped” the US in its military offensive against Iran.

The US president made his remarks in the Oval Office following Charles’ speech to Congress, in which the monarch argued the need for a strong Nato and help for Ukraine, which have both been criticised by the American leader.

Trump has repeatedly lambasted the UK for failing to join strikes against Tehran and branded Keir Starmer as weak and indecisive.

The president said: “The King is fantastic. We spent a lot of time together. We had a lot of talk. We talked about this also, and he loves his country, and he’s a great king, and he’s a great friend of mine.

“And I think if he were doing that, if that were up to him, he would have probably helped us with Iran.”

Trump added: “I think he’s a phenomenal representative for his country. I think the people in the United Kingdom should be proud.”

Trump also used a speech on Tuesday during the king’s state visit to claim Charles had agreed with him on the need to prevent Tehran getting a nuclear bomb.

Conversations with the monarch are normally kept private, but the president told a white-tie state banquet: “We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever – Charles agrees with me, even more than I do – we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.”

In response, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “The King is naturally mindful of his Government’s long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.”

As part of the state visit, UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and her US counterpart Marco Rubio held talks in Washington on the urgent need to restore the free movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iran conflict and ensuing stand-off between the US and Tehran amid a fragile truce has effectively closed the shipping lane, which is a major route for oil and gas supplies, sending energy prices soaring and damaging the global economy.

Following the meeting between Rubio and Cooper, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said: “The secretary and Foreign Secretary discussed the urgent need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

It came as First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said the closure of the maritime route and the international shock it has caused showed that “sea power is vital”.

The strait, which was open prior to the US and Israel launching strikes against Iran, has become the focus of transatlantic tensions.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth recently dismissed efforts being led by the UK and France to ensure the future security of the waterway as “silly” and said they should have “less fancy conferences in Europe and get in a boat”.

He said Europe needed the strait “much more than we do” and that it was “much more their fight than ours”.

Giving evidence to Congress on Wednesday, Hegseth said the Pentagon had “looked at all aspects” of the risk that Iran would block the shipping route.

Appearing with him, US military chief General Dan Caine said: “We always offer a full range of military options that are carefully considered with the associated risks with those options and the considerations therein.”

Earlier, Mr Trump warned that Iran had “better get smart” about a nuclear deal as he appeared to threaten a return to military action.

The president posted an image of himself brandishing an assault rifle against the backdrop of an exploding hillside with the caption “no more Mr Nice Guy”.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear (sic) deal. They better get smart soon!”

The president has justified the US-Israeli offensive, arguing it is aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear weapons programme.