UK still working closely with US, minister insists after Trump criticism

The UK is still working closely with the US, a cabinet minister has insisted, after President Donald Trump said the relationship was "obviously not what it was".

Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said he understood the president had not been satisfied that the UK was not involved in the initial joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

But he insisted "operationally" the relationship was "the same", with British fighter jets supporting the American military in the Middle East and the two allies continuing to co-operate on intelligence-sharing and trade.

The prime minister has since agreed to give the US access to those bases for "defensive" strikes in response to Iranian retaliatory attacks on the UK's citizens and interests.

"It's very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was," President Trump told the newspaper on Tuesday.

Trump told the newspaper Sir Keir had "not been helpful", adding he "never thought I'd see that from the UK".

"It's a different world, actually," Trump said. "It's just a much different kind of relationship that we've had with your country before."

When asked about accusations that Sir Keir was pandering to Muslim voters for political reasons, the president said: "It could be."

Trump told the newspaper Sir Keir "has got his own difficulties".

The president's comments deepen what has become the biggest disagreement between the two leaders yet.

Speaking to MPs on Monday, Sir Keir acknowledged that disagreement but argued it was his "duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest".

Sir Keir has repeatedly evoked the "mistakes of Iraq", a country invaded by a US-led coalition in 2003, with major participation from the UK.

The legality of that war has long been disputed.

Sir Keir told MPs on Monday: "The lessons of history have taught us that it is important when we make decisions like this, that we establish there is a lawful basis for what the United Kingdom is doing.

"That is one of the lessons from Iraq, and that there's a viable thought-through plan with an objective that can be achieved or has a viable prospect of being achieved.

"That is the principle that I applied to the decisions that I made over the weekend."

The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, killing the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones across the region, targeting countries including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as well as ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump and senior administration officials have offered different views on what they want to achieve in Iran.

The US president initially said the objective was to "defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime" and appealed to the people of Iran to "take over your government".

In a news conference on Monday, Trump said the US was seeking to destroy Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and navy, its ability to develop nuclear weapons, and support for proxy groups in the region.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Jones was asked whether the US's strikes on Iran were legal under international law.

"It's not for me to comment on the legal basis of actions taken by other countries," Jones said.

"That's for the Americans to explain and for any international court that they recognise to come to a judgement."