Donald Trump dismissed British support in the Middle East amid a growing spat with the prime minister over his reluctance to get involved in the US conflict with Iran.
The US president addressed reports that Britain is weighing sending an aircraft carrier to the region, as HMS Prince of Wales was readied to set sail within days.
“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Saturday evening.
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
The president has publicly attacked Sir Keir since Britain hesitated to the US to use its airbases for ‘defensive’ purposes during the war with Iran.
The Ministry of Defence told The Independent that only HMS Prince of Wales has been moved to an advanced state of readiness, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.
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Trump-Iran latest: Key Points
- Trump bashes Britain after clashing with Starmer over airbases
- Tony Blair 'says Starmer should have backed Trump'
- Trump says 'today Iran will be hit very hard' as he responds to Pezeshkian
- Trump says US military doing 'phenomenally' against Iran
- Trump salutes as troops killed in Iran conflict return to US
Tony Blair 'says Starmer should have backed Trump'
00:30 , James ReynoldsTony Blair backed the US in the row over American access to British airbases, arguing: “We should have backed America from the very beginning.”
The former prime minister, who led Britain into the wars in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 alongside the Americans, said at a private event on Friday: “If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security... you better show up.”
He indicated he had relayed his concerns to the government.
The comments, reported by the Telegraph, came amid a growing spat with Donald Trump, after Sir Keir’s government hesitated to give Washington initial access to British airbases to strike Iran.
Starmer told MPs this week: “President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest.”
He said: “What I was not prepared to do on Saturday was for the UK to join a war, unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable thought-through plan.”
The PM subsequently agreed to the use of British bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites.
Recap: Trump lashes out at Starmer over British involvement in Iran
00:15 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump dismissed British support in the Middle East amid a growing spat with the prime minister over his reluctance to get involved in the US conflict with Iran.
The US president addressed reports that Britain is weighing sending an aircraft carrier to the region, as HMS Prince of Wales was readied to set sail within days.
“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Saturday evening.
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
The president has publicly attacked Sir Keir since Britain hesitated to the US to use its airbases for ‘defensive’ purposes during the war with Iran.
The Ministry of Defence told The Independent that only HMS Prince of Wales has been moved to an advanced state of readiness, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.
Centcom denies rumours US personnel have been captured by Iran
00:07 , James ReynoldsUS Central Command has denied that any US service members have been taken hostage or captured by Iran.
In a post on X, Iranian security chief Ali Larijani said: "It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner."
US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for Centcom, said: "The Iranian regime is doing everything it can to peddle lies and deceive. This is yet another clear example."
Israel claims strikes on IRGC infrastructure in Tehran
00:01 , James ReynoldsIsrael claimed strikes on IRGC fuel storage complexes in Tehran overnight.
The IDF wrote on social media that the air force struck sites “where the Iranian terrorist regime would distribute fuel to multiple military entities in Iran”.
“The strike significantly deepens the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime,” it said.
"At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say 'We surrender,'" says Trump
23:45 , James ReynoldsSpeaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he is not interested in negotiating with Iran at this point.
He added the air campaign could make it a moot point if all potential leaders of Iran are killed and the Iranian military is destroyed.
"At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say 'We surrender,'" Trump said.
Tony Blair 'says Starmer should have backed Trump'
23:32 , James ReynoldsTony Blair backed the US in the row over American access to British airbases, arguing: “We should have backed America from the very beginning.”
The former prime minister, who led Britain into the wars in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 alongside the Americans, said at a private event on Friday: “If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security... you better show up.”
He indicated he had relayed his concerns to the government.
The comments, reported by the Telegraph, came amid a growing spat with Donald Trump, after Sir Keir’s government hesitated to give Washington initial access to British airbases to strike Iran.
Bombing of girls’ school in Iran that killed more than 150 was probably US air strike, military investigators believe
23:30 , James ReynoldsUS military investigators reportedly believe American forces were likely responsible for a strike on an Iranian school in Minab, in what analysts and human rights officials believe is the deadliest incident for civilian casualties since Donald Trump’s administration and Israeli forces began attacking the country.
Neither US nor Israeli officials have publicly taken responsibility for the strike, which killed 150 students, according to Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. The total death toll, which has reportedly exceeded 175 people, has not been independently confirmed.
Read the full article:
Military investigators believe US bombed Iranian girls’ school
Recap: White House says 'it does not matter' if Russia helping Iran to attack US bases
23:00 , James ReynoldsThe White House on Friday addressed reports that Russia may have supplied Iran with information on the location of US military facilities, including ships and aircraft, in the Middle East since the explosion of hostilities last Saturday.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed concerns about the report in an interview with Fox News, saying the administration does not comment on ‘intelligence reports leaked to the press’.
She added: “Whether or not this happened, frankly, it does not really matter, because President Trump and the United States military are absolutely decimating the rogue Iranian terrorist regime.”
A US official told the Washington Post that Moscow may see the move as retaliation for US support to Ukraine since 2022.
HMS Prince of Wales prepared for 'any deployment', reaffirms MOD
22:59 , James ReynoldsBritain’s ministry of defence said that the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier is being prepared for any future deployment, after Donald Trump claimed two carriers were being readied to be sent to the Middle East.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told The Independent that HMS Prince of Wales is being placed on a state of “increased preparedness”, reducing the time it would take to set sail if called upon by several days.
“We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus.
“Since the strikes began, we’ve had British jets in the sky shooting down drones and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone-busting missiles.
“HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.”
It is understood that Britain’s other aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has not been readied in the same way.
Trump refuses to rule out deploying ground forces in Iran
22:42 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump refused to rule out sending ground troops into Iran on Saturday as the conflict in the Middle East continued to escalate.
He told reporters on Air Force One that sending in troops to secure Iran’s nuclear facilities was something “we could do later on”, while suggesting it was not currently needed.
“It would be a great thing, but right now we’re just decimating them. We haven’t gone after it, but it’s something we could do later on,” he said.
“We wouldn’t do it now, maybe we’d do it later on,” he added.
Head of British military 'completely rejects' criticism of UK response to Iran war
22:30 , James ReynoldsThe head of the British military has said he “completely rejects” criticism of the UK’s response to the war between the US, Israel and Iran.
Speaking to the BBC, Chief of Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton said the growing Middle East conflict was “probably the most dangerous time of the last 30 years”. He said that the UK had been “bolstering our presence” in the region for several weeks and added that HMS Dragon would leave Portsmouth “in the next few days, as soon as it’s got ammunition on board”.
Sir Richard told the broadcaster that the drone that had targeted the RAF base in Cyprus was assessed to have launched from Lebanon by an Iranian-aligned group.
In pictures: Donald Trump salutes fallen soldiers returning to US
22:30 , James Reynolds Starmer 'right to stand up to Trump', says Sadiq Khan
22:19 , James ReynoldsThe London mayor issued a statement on social media supporting Keir Starmer earlier on Saturday.
He wrote: “Keir Starmer is right to stand up to Donald Trump over Iran.
“While the brutal Iranian regime should rightly be condemned and international pressure applied, this war is not the right course of action.”
Trump bashes Britain after clashing with Starmer over access to airbases
21:56 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump lashed out at the UK, saying “we will remember” after Keir Starmer offered the US delayed permission to use British airbases to prosecute its war in the Middle East.
“We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!” he wrote on Truth Social on Saturday, calling the UK a former “great ally”.
US tourist thought reports were 'a joke' until missiles fell
21:29 , James ReynoldsAn American tourist holidaying in Dubai has told how she thought reports of escalation were “a joke” until they received an emergency alert and their flights were suddenly cancelled.
Michaela Malchiodi, 23, arrived on Valentine’s Day for a two-week break and hoped to return home to Florida last Saturday, when the crisis erupted.
She told NBC News: “It literally said on the Amber Alert, it was like missiles coming or something like that.”
“We thought we were going to die. We were so scared.”
After a week stuck in Dubai, she was finally able to escape by taking a flight to Croatia, heading on to Denmark, then Iceland, before getting home.
Troops killed in Iran conflict arrive back in US
21:01 , James ReynoldsThe six American soldiers killed in the course of the conflict in the Middle East have been repatriated to the US.
Donald Trump saluted as their coffins were carried off a C-17 military aircraft at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
The six soldiers, who were killed on Sunday when a drone hit a port in Kuwait, have been identified as:
- Major Jeffrey O'Brien, 45
- 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42
- Captain Cody A. Khork, 35
- 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39
- Chief Warrant Officer Robert Marzan, 54
- Specialist Declan J. Coady, 20
Top Iranian security official says Trump has 'miscalculated'
20:37 , James ReynoldsAli Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, says Donald Trump has failed to reach his aims and that the US is “stuck in the quagmire of its own miscalculations”.
He says regional countries are aware that US cannot secure their security anymore, and that Tehran has no issue with regional countries, after days of strikes.
Turkey warns Iran against firing missiles towards Turkey
20:11 , James ReynoldsTurkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Iran on Saturday against firing any more missiles towards Turkey, after NATO air defences destroyed a missile heading into Turkish airspace.
Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, Fidan also said Turkey opposed all scenarios aiming to create ethnicity-based civil war in Iran, adding that such scenarios could lead to migrant waves.
US embassy in Baghdad 'targeted by Soviet-era Katyusha rockets'
19:50 , James ReynoldsKatyusha rockets targeted the US embassy in Baghdad on Saturday and sirens sounded, security sources and witnesses said.
It was not immediately clear whether the rockets caused any damage or casualties.
Mapped: Israeli-US attacks in western Iran
19:30 , James Reynolds In pictures: Demonstrators protest the conflict in London on Saturday
19:10 , James Reynolds Person killed after debris fell on vehicle in UAE
18:58 , James ReynoldsA person was killed after debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in Al Barsha area, the Dubai media office reports.
Analysis: US and Israeli wins yet to turn into strategic outcome
18:50 , James ReynoldsACLED, an independent, impartial conflict monitor, said today that the US has yet to see strategic successes in Iran.
A spokesperson told The Independent: "One week into the war, Israel and the United States can point to significant operational successes across Iran. Yet these gains have not translated into a clear strategic outcome: the collapse or transformation of the Iranian regime remains uncertain.
“Against this backdrop, Iran’s western border region is becoming increasingly important. Kurdish armed groups may soon launch operations from the Iran–Iraq border, amid reports that Israeli and US officials have been in contact with Iranian Kurdish factions based in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.
"The geographic distribution of the current joint US-Israeli air campaign is notable in this context. ACLED data indicates that about one-fifth of all strikes have occurred in Kurdish-majority provinces of Kermanshah, Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, and Ilam, most of them by Israel. After Tehran, Kermanshah has experienced the highest number of strikes since the start of the war.”
Iranian strikes are 'putting British lives at risk', says MoD
18:21 , James ReynoldsBritain’s ministry of defence says that the US is using British bases to “prevent Iran firing missiles into the region, which is putting British lives at risk”.
RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets have also continued operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus, and the wider region, “in defence of British interests and allies”, it said.
The latest: Trump says Iran will be hit hard as Iranian president apologises for strikes on neighbours
18:00 , James Reynolds- Donald Trump warned in a Truth Social post that more Iranian officials will be targets, threatening “today Iran will be hit very hard”.
- Iran also apologised for attacks on “neighbouring countries”, even as its missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states.
- President Pezeshkian said the military would only attack countries that have attacked Iran. The military then said Tehran has “not hit countries that did not provide space for America to invade our country”.
- Satellite imagery, expert analysis, a US official and public information released by the US and Israeli militaries suggest an explosion that killed scores of Iranian students at a school was likely caused by US airstrikes. The US has not taken responsibility and says it is investigating.
- At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, over 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries.
- A US B1 bomber capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles landed in the UK on Friday after the PM approved ‘defensive’ US actions against Iran from its bases.
Iran would have 'right to self-defence' if UK joins strikes
17:38 , James ReynoldsIran’s ambassador to the UK has warned Britain to be “very careful” about involvement in the burgeoning conflict in the Middle East.
Seyed Ali Mousavi told the BBC that Tehran would have a “right to self-defence” if the UK joins in offensive actions with Israel and the United States.
Iran issues enduring threat to neighbours
17:30 , James ReynoldsIran’s parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf writes on social media that so long as the US maintains a presence of bases in the region, the hosts will not enjoy peace.
“The defense policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran are consistent, based on the guidelines of our martyred Imam. As long as the presence of U.S. bases in the region continue, the countries will not enjoy peace,” he says.
“Iranian officials and people are united on this principle.”
New Iranian leader to be chosen within 24 hours
17:28 , James ReynoldsIran’s semi-official FARS news agency reports that a meeting to choose the next leader of Iran will be held within the next 24 hours.
Reza Mozaffari-Nia, a member of the Assembly of Experts, said: “The people’s representatives in the Assembly of Experts … are eagerly awaiting the conditions for holding a session and consultation to choose a new Leader.”
The Assembly is the deliberative body tasked with appointing and overseeing the Supreme Leader of Iran.
More inbound missiles reported approaching Saudi airbase
17:00 , James ReynoldsSaudi’s defence ministry now says that a ballistic missile fell into an uninhabited area in the direction of the Prince Sultan airbase.
Recap: White House says 'it does not matter' if Russia helping Iran to attack US bases
17:00 , James ReynoldsThe White House on Friday addressed reports that Russia may have supplied Iran with information on the location of US military facilities, including ships and aircraft, in the Middle East since the explosion of hostilities last Saturday.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed concerns about the report in an interview with Fox News, saying the administration does not comment on ‘intelligence reports leaked to the press’.
She added: “Whether or not this happened, frankly, it does not really matter, because President Trump and the United States military are absolutely decimating the rogue Iranian terrorist regime.”
A US official told the Washington Post that Moscow may see the move as retaliation for US support to Ukraine since 2022.
Bahrain reports fire and damage to buildings in Manama
16:57 , James ReynoldsBahrain is also reporting fire and material damage to a house and surrounding buildings in Manama, following strikes from Iran.
Following a rare apology from Iran over attacks against its neighbours, the foreign ministry said that defensive operations against US bases should not be taken as hostility against regional countries.
Footage captures drone strike near Dubai Airport
15:16 , Dan HaygarthHow the Iran war is underpinned by ‘end times’ religious fervour in Washington and Tehran
15:00 , Dan HaygarthAn overlapping belief in end times, or the second coming, underpins much of the motivation in the corridors of power in Washington and in the bunkers where the ayatollahs hide today, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
How the Iran war shows ‘end times’ religious fervour gripping Washington and Tehran
US has starts using British bases for “specific defensive operations”
14:51 , Dan HaygarthThe US has started using British bases for “specific defensive operations” to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region, the Ministry of Defence has said.
A Merlin helicopter is also being sent to the region to help with surveillance from the air and RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets are continuing air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus.
British military boss ‘completely rejects’ criticism of UK response to war
14:45 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
The head of the British military has said he “completely rejects” criticism that Britain was not prepared for the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
Sir Keir Starmer has faced criticism from both opponents and allies over what they have characterised as a slow response to conflict in the region.
On Saturday, Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton told the BBC that the UK had been "bolstering our presence" in the region for several weeks.
He said it was “probably the most dangerous time of the last 30 years”, and added that it was clear "that Iran's response was going to be much broader, wild and indiscriminate, and rather reckless compared to what we saw in the 12-day war last summer".
Government should 'focus on welfare, not warfare', trade union leader says
14:44 , Dan HaygarthA trade union leader has called on the Government to “focus on welfare, not warfare” and keep the UK “out of this conflict” during a protest in central London calling for the end of US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, told a crowd of protesters on Saturday afternoon: “I’m here not just in my role as a British trade union leader and anti-war activist, but as an Iranian, who’s grieving for my homeland.
“Most Iranians are in a state of shock. We are completely stunned by what’s being done to Iran.”
Speaking outside the US Embassy in Vauxhall, she added: “War always has economic consequences, yet at the same time, we’re told there’s no money for the NHS, no money for policing, no money for our transport infrastructure, no money for potholes, no money for teachers.
“That’s why we must say clearly to our government, focus on welfare, not warfare, and keep our country out of this conflict.”
Recap: Pezeshkian and Trump issue statements
14:35 , Dan HaygarthIsrael and Iran traded attacks as the Middle East war entered a second week on Saturday, while Tehran made an apology to neighbouring states for its "actions”.
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian apologises to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions, urging them not to join U.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
He dismissed Donald Trump's demand for the Islamic Republic's unconditional surrender as "a dream", but said its temporary leadership council had agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states unless strikes on Iran originated from their territory.
Trump nonetheless cast Iran's apology as a surrender, while saying the country would be "hit very hard" on Saturday.
Full story: UK preparing aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East
14:32 , Dan HaygarthRead the full article:
UK preparing aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East
Starmer ‘too scared’ after by-election loss to support Trump’s war in Iran, Badenoch says
14:19 , Dan HaygarthKemi Badenoch has accused the prime minister of being “too scared” to intervene in Iran after being“spooked” by last week’s by-election loss.
Sir Keir Starmer suffered a humiliating by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton to the Green Party last week, sparking concerns among Labour MPs that they could face further crushing losses at the hands of the left.
Speaking at the Conservative Party’s spring conference in Harrogate on Saturday, Mrs Badenoch suggested the result had influenced the prime minister’s response to the unfolding war in the Middle East.
Read Athena Stavrou’s full article:
Starmer ‘too scared’ after by-election loss to support war in Iran, Badenoch says
UK aircraft carrier being readied for possible deployment to Middle East, according to reports
13:37 , Dan HaygarthSky News is reporting that it understands the UK is preparing an aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East, halving its notice to move.
The acceleration of the readiness time for HMS Prince of Wales to five days would mean it could respond more rapidly if required to mobilise.
The Independent has contacted the MOD for comment.
Badenoch says UK is ‘in this war whether Starmer likes it or not’
13:35 , Dan HaygarthKemi Badenoch has said the prime minister is “too scared to make foreign interventions” and that the UK is “in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not”.
Speaking at the Conservative Party’s spring conference in Harrogate, Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir was “sitting on the fence” when it comes to the conflict in the Middle East.
The Tory leader said last week’s by-election won by the Greens has “spooked” the Labour Party.
She said: “Now Keir Starmer is too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of that electorate.
“Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq War, nobody sensible is suggesting that we should drop bombs without a second thought.
“But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers, plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on.
“Canada and Australia had the moral clarity to do so immediately and unequivocally. Even now, our Prime Minister is sitting on the fence. We are in this war, whether Keir Starmer likes it or not.”
Starmer mocked for ‘copying Trump’ with dramatic TikTok on Britain’s response to war in Iran
13:32 , Dan HaygarthSir Keir Starmer has been accused of trying to emulate Donald Trump after posting a dramatic TikTok edit showing Britain’s military response to the war in the Middle East.
The prime minister posted a video showing British Wildcat helicopters and military jets in action, accompanied by the song ‘Money for Nothing’ by Dire Straits.
The edit has been mocked by social media users and MPs alike, who have accused the prime minister of trying to copy the White House, which has recently come under fire for its own TikTok clips related to the war.
Al Pinkerton, a Liberal Democrat MP, compared the post indicated Sir Keir has been “sucked into the orbit of Trump’s deranged confusion of blockbuster with international conflict”.
Read the full article:
Starmer mocked for ‘copying Trump’ with TikTok on Britain’s response to war in Iran
Ben Stiller tells White House to remove Tropic Thunder clip from ‘propaganda’ video
13:25 , Dan HaygarthBen Stiller has hit out at the White House after a clip from his film Tropic Thunder was used as part of a montage in a pro-war social media video.
The 42-second clip includes footage of recent strikes on Iran edited between scenes from a number of movies, including Iron Man 2, Gladiator, and Braveheart.
The Tropic Thunder scene shows Tom Cruise dancing in character as Les Grossman.
On X, Stiller wrote: “Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie.”
Read the full article:
Ben Stiller tells White House to remove Tropic Thunder clip from ‘propaganda’ video
Will war in the Middle East ruin Mohammed Bin Salman’s plan to make Saudi the new Dubai?
13:20 , Dan HaygarthSaudi Arabia’s crown prince hoped the kingdom would soon rival the UAE as the business hub and safe haven in the region.
But experts tell Tara Cobham that a protracted conflict threatens.
Read the full article below:
Will Riyadh strike ruin Mohammed Bin Salman’s plan to make Saudi the new Dubai?
Protest begins in central London against US and Israeli strikes on Iran
13:14 , Holly BancroftA protester demonstrating in central London against US and Israeli strikes on Iran has said "the public aren't for the war".
Asked about why he attended the protest in Millbank on Saturday, Martin Perry, 58, from Northampton, said: "Because the acts against Iran is against international law, and it's just a pattern of events, decisions taken by America and Israel, that are destroying international law."
He added: "I'm here today to signal to Keir Starmer that the public aren't for the war against Iran, and don't want our forces going into, being involved in an illegal war."
Recap: Trump has privately shown ‘serious interest’ in deploying US ground troops to Iran, report claims
13:06 , Holly BancroftPresident Donald Trump has reportedly expressed serious interest in deploying a limited force of U.S. troops on the ground to fight Iran, writes Josh Marcus.
The detachment would not be a full ground invasion force, but rather a small contingent of troops, officials familiar with the discussions told NBC News.
The president reportedly floated the idea while talking about his larger vision of stopping Iran from enriching uranium that could be used in a nuclear weapon and ensuring Iranian cooperation with U.S. oil producers, the sources said.
The White House denounced the reporting.
Read the full story here:
Trump has shown ‘serious interest’ in US troops deploying to Iran, report claims
Head of British military 'completely rejects' criticism of UK response to Iran war
12:55 , Holly BancroftThe head of the British military has said he “completely rejects” criticism of the UK’s response to the war between the US, Israel and Iran.
Speaking to the BBC, Chief of Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton said the growing Middle East conflict was “probably the most dangerous time of the last 30 years”. He said that the UK had been “bolstering our presence” in the region for several weeks and added that HMS Dragon would leave Portsmouth “in the next few days, as soon as it’s got ammunition on board”.
Sir Richard told the broadcaster that the drone that had targeted the RAF base in Cyprus was assessed to have launched from Lebanon by an Iranian-aligned group.
Photos show destruction in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
12:49 , Holly BancroftPhotos taken during a media tour organised by Hezbollah show destruction at Nabi Sheet town after an Israeli military operation in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon.
Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, said on Saturday that it confronted Israeli troops that infiltrated an east Lebanon town overnight. Lebanese authorities are reporting at least 16 killed in Israeli strikes on the area, with 35 others injured.
Chaos at Dubai airport after flights suspended following drone attack
12:40 , Holly BancroftPassengers were taken into tunnels and flights were briefly suspended at Dubai airport after a drone strike appeared to hit nearby, writes Dan Haygarth.
Several blasts were heard in the city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences, as Iranian strikes targeted the Gulf states in response to a joint Israel-US bombing campaign.
Passengers waiting for flights at Dubai international airport, the world’s busiest international travel hub, were ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after the alert sounded.
Video footage shows an explosion and smoke appearing to emanate near the terminal. A whirring sound is heard just before the explosion in the footage.
Read the full story here:
Chaos at Dubai airport after flights suspended following drone attack
Hezbollah warns residents in northern Israeli city to evacuate
12:32 , Holly BancroftLebanese militant group Hezbollah has warned residents of a northern Israeli city near the border with Lebanon to evacuate and head south.
Hezbollah did not specify what action, if any, it planned to take against the city, which lies only a few kilometres from the border.
"Warning. All residents of Kiryat Shmona are asked to evacuate immediately. Head south," it said in a statement.
Lebanon was pulled into the widening US-Israel war with Iran on Monday after Hezbollah, an Iranian-aligned group, fired rockets and drones into Israel. Israel responded with heavy strikes across Lebanon's south, east and near Beirut.
Tens of thousands of Israelis living in the north evacuated their homes after war broke out in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in 2023, as Hezbollah began firing rockets and other projectiles at northern communities.
Pictured: US bomber arrives at RAF base in Gloucestershire
12:25 , Holly BancroftPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has decided that UK bases, including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford, could be used in the Iran conflict, enabling the US to strike defensively to protect countries being targeted by Tehran.
Here a United States Air Force Rockwell B-1 Lancer Bomber is pictured arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Saturday March 7, 2026.
Protesters gather in central London for demonstration against US and Israeli strikes on Iran
12:17 , Holly BancroftMore than 100 protesters have gathered on Millbank, central London, for a demonstration calling for the end of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Several tents were installed by charities and action groups on the street by Victoria Tower Gardens next to Westminster, with protesters giving out signs, leaflets and merch.
Action groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop The War, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association Of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends Of Al-Aqsa will lead a march to the US embassy on Saturday afternoon.
The Metropolitan Police has imposed conditions requiring protesters to stay on designated routes and finish their post-march rallies by 5pm.
16 ballistic missiles targeted at the UAE on Saturday, authorities report
12:08 , Holly Bancroft16 ballistic missiles have been detected by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) air defence systems so far today, with 15 intercepted and destroyed, the country’s ministry of defence (MoD) has said.
One ballistic missile fell into the sea, the MoD said in an update on X. 121 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones, have also been detected on Saturday.
Since the start of Iran’s attacks on the Gulf, a total of 221 ballistic missiles and 1,305 drones have been detected by the UAE, the updated added.
Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian today said that Iran would no longer attack Gulf and neighbouring states if they are not attacking Iran.