UK minister jibes Trump 'doesn't know what he's doing' in Iran war

A British minister has risked the wrath of Donald Trump by jibing that he has 'no plan' for the Iran war. Trade minister Chris Bryant raised fears the president 'doesn't know what he's doing' in the Middle East, saying it was 'obvious' Tehran would try to block the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Around a fifth of the world's oil supplies pass through that channel, and the closure has sent prices spiralling with alarm at the prospect of a global recession. The assessment - the bluntest yet from the UK government - came as Sir Chris toured broadcast studios this morning. But the intervention could cause even more friction in the Special Relationship, after Mr Trump branded Keir Starmer 'no Churchill' for refusing to participate in US-Israeli attacks.

The president has oscillated between demanding countries such as Britain and France help reopen the Strait and angrily stating America does not need any assistance. Last night he took to social media to mull 'what would happen' if the US washed its hands of responsibility for reopening the Strait, arguing America is self-sufficient in oil. Critics have pointed out that oil prices are global and so US consumers still feel the impact. Appearing on Sky News, Sir Chris insisted Britain had ' said from the beginning that we should be de-escalating' 'One of my colleagues, counterparts in the Gulf said to me yesterday 'I don't know what they're doing. I simply don't know what they're doing',' he added. 

Asked if he personally thought he understood what the US was doing, Sir Chris replied: 'No. You know, does he know? I mean, it seems very, very confusing.' Pressed on whether Mr Trump had gone into the war with a plan, Sir Chris said: 'I think one of the reasons that Keir Starmer was quite rightly - and I think he showed, exceptional leadership at this point - was saying, look, first of all, we're not going to send British troops into a situation where they're not protected legally because there's no good legal argument for the war.'

'Secondly, if you're going to do anything, you've got to have a plan. And it just seems basic to me. But no, it just doesn't feel like there's been a plan. Or if there is a plan, it's changing every single day.' Sir Chris accepted that events did not always play out as expected in war. However, he added: 'Look, I'm no defender of the Iranian regime. But it seems to me rather obvious that the first thing that they would do to retaliate will be to try to close the Strait of Hormuz.'

Nato states have indicated they will not send warships to patrol the Strait until 'hot' clashes end. Sir Keir told the Commons yesterday: 'We will protect our people in the region. We will take action to defend ourselves and our allies, and we will not be drawn into the wider war. 'I want to see this war end as quickly as possible. The longer it continues, the bigger the impact on the cost of living, and that's why we've intervened to support households with costs of heating oil. 'The best way forward is a negotiated settlement with Iran giving up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon.'