Donald Trump Accuses UK and France of Failing to Support U.S. Military Operations in Iran

Donald Trump launched a sharp public attack on Tuesday against allied nations he accused of failing to support the United States in its ongoing war against Iran, singling out the United Kingdom and France by name in posts on his Truth Social platform and telling countries struggling to obtain fuel due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to either buy American oil or sail to the strait and "just take it." Trump wrote: „To all those countries that are not getting jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, such as the United Kingdom, which refused to participate in the smashing of Iran, I have a suggestion: First, buy in the USA, we have plenty. Second, go into the Strait of Hormuz and just take it.” — Donald Trump via Berliner Zeitung The president added that Iran had been "essentially smashed" and that "the hardest part is done," framing the remarks as a declaration that the United States had carried the burden of the conflict largely alone. Trump also threatened an end to American military assistance for countries that had not participated, including NATO members, writing that the USA would "no longer help you — just as you did not help us." The posts represented the most direct public rebuke yet of European partners since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026.

Hegseth warns allies: decisive days ahead Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reinforced Trump's message at a Pentagon press conference, describing the current phase of the conflict as potentially decisive and signaling that the United States intended to press forward militarily while pursuing a negotiated end to the war. „In just one month, we have set the conditions — the coming days will be decisive.” — Pete Hegseth via tagesschau.de Hegseth said the United States wanted to conclude the conflict through an agreement but added: „In the meantime, we will negotiate with bombs.” — Pete Hegseth via Berliner Zeitung When asked whether ground troops could be deployed, Hegseth declined to rule out the option, saying the United States would not reveal its limits to an adversary and that remaining unpredictable was the decisive factor. He also pressed allied nations directly, stating that countries worldwide should be prepared to defend the Strait of Hormuz and that the British Royal Navy was equipped for such tasks. Hegseth argued that a real alliance requires member states to stand by one another in emergencies, echoing Trump's broader complaint about burden-sharing. The Wall Street Journal, citing government officials, reported separately that Trump was prepared to end the military conflict even if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed in the short term, suggesting a gap between public rhetoric and internal planning.

France bars military overflights, Italy turns away US aircraft Trump directed particular anger at France after reports emerged that Paris had refused to allow aircraft carrying military goods destined for Israel to cross French airspace, calling the decision "VERY UNCOOPERATIVE" and writing that "the USA WILL NOT FORGET THIS." A western diplomat confirmed to Reuters that France had denied Israel the use of its airspace for the transport of US weapons intended for use in the Iran war, with the refusal reportedly occurring over the weekend and marking the first such measure since the conflict began. The Jerusalem Post, citing three Israeli sources, reported that Israel's government was considering halting the sale of defense goods to France in retaliation, though existing contracts would continue to be honored and private companies could still conclude independent deals. Italy also drew attention after the newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto had rejected a request for US military aircraft to land at the Sigonella base in Sicily because Washington had informed Rome only after the aircraft were already airborne, without seeking prior authorization. Spain had already barred the use of its military bases for attacks on Iran at the start of March, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez describing the US strikes as a violation of international law, after which Trump publicly threatened Madrid with the end of all trade relations. The pattern of European refusals underlined the degree to which the United States had not coordinated the attack on Iran with NATO allies before launching the operation.

The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, designated Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026, with strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, was appointed Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026. Trump had previously criticized allied nations on March 7, 2026, saying he did not want countries that "only participate in wars once we have already won them." The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint through which a significant share of global oil trade normally passes; its effective blockade since the start of the war has disrupted fuel supplies to numerous countries.

US military targets Iranian navy and nuclear infrastructure Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine outlined the military's current operational priorities at the Pentagon, stating that US forces were concentrating on destroying Iran's mine-laying capabilities and naval units. „We have again sunk more than 150 ships.” — Dan Caine via tagesschau.de Caine added that attack helicopters were now involved in strikes on Iranian naval targets. A second major objective, Caine said, was the elimination of Iran's defense industry, including nuclear research facilities, factories, warehouses, and research and development laboratories for nuclear weapons, along with the infrastructure Iran would need to restore its combat capability. The United States most recently struck military facilities in the Isfahan region, reportedly using large quantities of bunker-busting bombs each weighing the equivalent of 900 kilograms. Hegseth said the number of Iranian missiles and drones fired had fallen significantly in recent days, with the past 24 hours representing a historic low, though he acknowledged this assessment could not be independently verified. On Tuesday, Israel and several Gulf states also reported further Iranian attacks that resulted in impacts and injuries, complicating the picture of a conflict nearing its end.

900 (kilograms) — weight of bunker-busting bombs used in Isfahan strikes

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