Responding to a question from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey about Trump’s latest comments, Sir Keir told Prime Minister’s Questions: “My position on Iran has been clear from the start, we’re not going to get dragged into this war.”
“It is not our war, a lot of pressure has been applied to me to take a different course and that pressure included what happened last night.”
“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. I know where I stand.”
In his interview with Sky News, Trump was asked how he would describe the special relationship between the US and the UK. He said: “It’s the relationship where when we asked them for help, they were not there. When we needed them, they were not there.
“When we didn’t need them, they were not there. And they still aren’t there.” Asked how he would describe the “special relationship”, Trump responded: “With who?”
Pressed further on the relationship, Trump said it had “been better, but it’s sad”.
“And we gave them a good trade deal. Better than I had to. Which can always be changed.”
In May last year, the UK became the first country to agree a tariff agreement with President Trump after his return to office, cutting some import taxes on cars, aluminium and steel.
The relationship between the two countries’ leaders has in recent weeks shown signs of strain over the Middle East. Trump has frequently criticised Sir Keir over the prime minister’s repeated refusal to sign off direct military involvement in the conflict, labelling him “no Winston Churchill”.
The prime minister’s spokesperson said the UK continues to have “a close relationship” with the US despite Trump’s latest comments.
“The special relationship with the US exists on multiple levels, and we have a close relationship with the USA, which spans trade, diplomacy, national security, culture, and beyond. It’s far bigger than any individual issue,” the spokesperson added.