Major attacks Trump on Iran and Starmer's 'tiptoeing' approach to president

Sir John Major has attacked Donald Trump over the Iran war and accused Sir Keir Starmer of a "demeaning" policy of "tiptoeing" around the president.

The former prime minister said President Trump should have sought United Nations backing for the war and claimed it would not end hostilities in the Middle East. In a hard-hitting speech, Sir John also bitterly condemned US vice president JD Vance and defence secretary Pete Hegseth for their "shameful" attacks on Europe and NATO.

Denouncing the president's strategy, Sir John said: "There was no diplomatic attempt to obtain a UN resolution to give legality to the war. No nation - other than Israel - was even consulted.

"This was despite the fact that the war was bound have much wider repercussions across the Middle East and beyond. Many nations will pay a price for this war.

"Hostilities will not end when bombing stops. Old hatreds will linger.

New hatreds will have been born. A new generation may have been radicalised.

Retaliation may be deferred, but it is likely to come." In a lecture at King's College, London, honouring Clement Attlee, the ex-PM said the Iran war's aims have never been clear and have been changing by the day since the conflict began. "No exit strategy is known," he said.

"The president demanded surrender. He is unlikely to get it." In contrast, Sir John praised his relationship with George HW Bush, during the first Gulf War in 1990-91 and said they never held back in their discussions.

"But today, there is a tendency to tiptoe around the president to avoid upsetting him," he said. "Although I understand that, I do not agree with it.

"Sovereign states that demean themselves will be seen as subordinates and not allies. That is not a role for the UK.

"If we disagree with American policy we should say so - as a friend that cares for the wellbeing of an ally. Statesmen do this in private ‒ not in public." Describing a "new tone from America.