TRUMP SAYS US-BRITISH RELATIONSHIP 'NOT WHAT IT WAS' AFTER DISAGREEMENT OVER STRIKES ON IRAN

LONDON, March 3 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- US President Donald Trump said he is “very sad” to see that the UK-US relationship is “not what it was” after criticising British Premier Keir Starmer for taking “far too long” to allow US forces to use British airbases to attack Iran, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. 

In a telephone interview with The Sun tabloid published Tuesday, Trump said: "It's a different world, actually. It's just a much different kind of relationship that we've had with your country before. It's very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was."

Trump compared Starmer's actions unfavourably with France's support for the strikes and with the backing of Mark Rutte, the NATO secretary general.

"He has not been helpful. I never thought I'd see that. I never thought I'd see that from the UK. We love the UK," he said.

Starmer said on Monday that the UK did not believe in “regime change from the skies,” defending his decision not to allow the use of UK bases for the initial wave of attacks.

However, he said the situation changed on Sunday when Iran's “outrageous” response became a threat to British people and British allies.

On Sunday, a drone headed for a British base on the island of Cyprus was intercepted.

Starmer has now agreed to the US request to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of being “too scared” to take a stronger stance against Iran.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU