Farage turns on ally Trump over president’s latest Iran threat: ‘That is over the top in every single way’
Nigel Farage has turned his back on long-time ally and friend Donald Trump after the US president threatened “an entire civilization will die tonight and never be brought back” in his latest speech on Iran.
The Reform UK leader, who has often celebrated his relationship with Mr Trump, expressed shock at the president’s latest social media post, which marked a major escalation in his rhetoric towards Tehran.
Trump warned on Truth Social that he would follow through on his latest threat if Tehran did not give in to his demand to accept the cease-fire agreement and open the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday night, saying, “I don’t want it to happen, but it probably will.”
Speaking as he left a local election campaign event in Bedworth, Warwickshire, on Tuesday, Mr Farage said the comments had “gone too far” and marked a rift in their political friendship, which is said to have begun in 2016.
“I was quite surprised to hear this. This is exaggerated in every way,” he said after reading the first two lines of the post.
“Yes, of course he wants to threaten them to bring them to the negotiating table. But these words… are very exaggerated.”
Mr Farage added: “He’s a sad, angry American president. He’s completely unorthodox, but I’d like to remind you of what Churchill said about the bombing of Germany during the war. Some pretty unorthodox things were said there too.”
On Truth Social, Mr. Trump once again demanded that Tehran agree to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane by 1 a.m.
He wrote: “But now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, dominated by different, smarter and less radicalized minds, it may be something revolutionary great, WHO KNOWS?
“Tonight we will learn about one of the most important moments in the world’s long and complex history. 47 years of usurpation, corruption and death will finally come to an end. God Bless the Great People of Iran.”
The post is the latest in a series of threats made by the US president, who has previously threatened to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure, a move the UN has deemed a war crime.
Downing Street is expected to refuse to allow the US military to use British assets in attacks on Iranian infrastructure.
Sir Keir Starmer has previously allowed the US to use British bases, including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, for “defensive” strikes against Iranian missile sites.
Asked whether the government would prevent UK assets from being used in attacks on infrastructure, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We will not be making any ongoing comments about allies’ operations, including their use of bases.
“I would like to note that our position on this issue has not changed. The agreement is in place for the US to use UK bases for the collective self-defense of the region, including defensive operations to disrupt missile sites and capabilities used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.”
He said the UK’s “principles have been clear from day one” and are set out in “legal advice”.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, an outspoken critic of Mr Trump, called on the government to prevent the US from using UK air bases for other missions.
“After Trump’s latest shocking threats, Keir Starmer faces a choice: withdraw US access to UK air bases or risk allowing British territory to be used to commit war crimes,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
On Tuesday, Britain was chairing a meeting of military planners from a coalition of nations examining long-term measures to secure the strait. The debate was expected to focus on plans for an international coalition to make the strait safe for shipping after hostilities end.
