Trump will raise “everything” with UK King Charles, including the Iran war

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(Alliance News) – US President Donald Trump said he plans to talk to the UK king about “everything” during King Charles III’s visit, including the Iran war, which has disrupted transatlantic relations.

Trump also said he would raise the hot issue of NATO, which he has criticized all along.

The US leader made his comments to Reuters as fresh controversy erupted over reports that the US could review its position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands as punishment for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s lack of support for military action against Tehran.

The latest row comes just days before the King and Queen arrive in the US for a four-day visit to celebrate 250 years since the US became free from British rule.

As well as meeting Trump, the royal couple will be guests of honor at the White House banquet, and the king has been invited to speak at a joint session of the US Congress.

In addition, Charles and Camilla will also visit Virginia and New York.

Trump said: “I will talk about everything.”

Among other topics he was due to discuss with the King was the UK’s digital services tax on US telecommunications companies.

The president has threatened to impose “massive tariffs” on Britain unless it drops the 2% tax on the income of most American technology companies.

The tax targets companies whose global revenue from digital activities exceeds GBP500 million, with more than GBP25 million of that revenue coming from UK users.

According to the Treasury’s 2025 review, the levy has increased by more than GBP800 million in 2024-25, up from GBP678 million in 2023-24.

Trump has previously said that a royal visit could completely “fix” relations with the UK and hailed the King as a “great man”.

This is in stark contrast to his view of Starmer, whom he mocks as weak and indecisive.

Tensions show no signs of abating as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed UK- and France-led efforts to ensure the future security of the Strait of Hormuz as “foolish”.

He pointed out that Europe must start having “conferences that don’t fall on the ground and get on board”, as he reprimanded Britain and other countries for their response to the problem of the important road in the Gulf.

In specific words, Hegseth said that America deserves “loyal” partners and understood that the relationship is “not one way”.

The Strait, a major oil and gas supply route, was open before the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.

In retaliation, Tehran effectively blocked the shipping lane.

And although Trump has extended the ill-fated ceasefire, the high-profile shipping route remains a historic one, with the US and Iran imposing their own sanctions, bringing the ship to a standstill and fueling a global energy crisis that has seen prices plummet.

However, hopes have risen for talks to resolve the conflict, as US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were sent to Pakistan on Saturday “to hear the Iranians”.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is currently in Islamabad, although foreign ministry spokesman Esmael Baqaei told X that “no meeting is scheduled between Iran and the US”.

He said Pakistani officials would pass messages between the two sides.

But White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said: “We hope it will be a productive conversation and we hope to move the ball forward on an agreement.

“We have seen some progress on the Iranian side in the last few days.”

While Vice President JD Vance did not travel, Leavitt said he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were “stand-by” to fly to Pakistan “if necessary”.

By Nick Lester, US News Agency Editor in Washington DC

source: PA

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