US President Donald Trump berated his European NATO allies for failing to provide military support to Washington in its war on Iran alongside Israel, signaling he could withdraw from the alliance and calling it a “paper tiger,” Britain’s The Telegraph reported.
Trump said Washington could reconsider its NATO membership after the war ends, arguing that the United States had helped Europe during the war in Ukraine but did not receive similar support after entering the war against Iran. He specifically mocked the British navy, saying the fleet’s aircraft carriers were no longer fit for service.
The remarks come as European powers move toward diplomacy rather than direct military alignment with Washington, with the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a central flashpoint in the conflict.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that Britain would host a meeting of 35 countries this week to “assess all viable diplomatic and political measures” to reopen the strategic waterway.
Trump’s latest remarks were followed by notice that he would address the American people on Wednesday evening with what was described as an “important” update on the war with Iran. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said, “The new head of the Iranian regime, who is far less radical and far smarter than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASE FIRE! We will look at it when the Strait of Hormuz is open, free and unfettered. Until then, we will totally destroy Iran or, as they say, take it back to the stone age!!!”
Iran had not responded to Trump’s post by the time of publication.
Europe leans neutral as Iran says it is ready
Starmer said the war with Iran “is not our war,” and that Britain’s supreme interest required moving closer to Europe for fear that the United States could withdraw from NATO.
France and Japan also called for de-escalation in the Middle East and for restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while pledging to strengthen defense and diplomatic cooperation during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Tokyo, where he met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
While Trump suggested the war could end within weeks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country was ready to hold out for another six months. He said in an interview with Al Jazeera, “We are setting no deadlines for defending ourselves. We will defend our country and our people as long as necessary and by any means required.”
Since Wednesday morning, Iran and Israel have been exchanging strikes. Various parts of Tehran came under Israeli attack, while Tel Aviv was targeted by several Iranian missile barrages, alongside supporting attacks by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.
Qatar also came under an Iranian attack involving three cruise missiles. Two were intercepted, while the third hit an oil tanker without causing casualties. The Defense Ministry said in a brief statement that it had implemented procedures and coordinated with relevant authorities to evacuate the tanker, which was carrying a crew of 21.
Events marking Islamic Republic Day on Tuesday night, a national holiday observed every year on April 1, turned into mass demonstrations in support of the regime. President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took part, and the rallies featured chants against the United States and Israel.
The public appearance of senior Iranian officials was seen as a clear challenge to US-Israeli threats to assassinate regime figures until it is overthrown.
Lebanon is divided
In Lebanon, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri accused Hezbollah of dragging the country into war despite earlier pledges not to give Israel a pretext to attack Lebanon. He noted that Israel had not halted its military operations in the south since the ceasefire agreement in November 2024.
Mitri warned in an interview with Asharq TV of the danger of Israel seeking to establish a security zone in the south, saying that this would amount to an assault on Lebanese sovereignty and a clear violation of international law. He said Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s negotiation initiative, based on four main points, had received no response from either Israel or the United States.
These developments come as the US-Israeli war against Iran, which began at the end of February, continues amid growing fears that the confrontation could slide into further escalation, especially under US scenarios that include taking control of oil facilities.
