Longtime allies remain frustrated by the Trump administration’s refusal to give a heads-up before the American-Israeli airstrikes on Iran began in February, according to two European officials. And they are wary of jumping into a risky new mission when they have not been treated as partners by the White House.
There was “no consultation with Congress, no consultation with allies, just boom,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said in an interview.
Trump is “deeply frustrated that Congress isn’t supporting it, the American people aren’t supporting it, our core allies aren’t supporting it,” he added.“ You can’t be surprised when you throw a party and you don’t invite anybody.”
Streeting cautioned Sunday that the U.K. has “not joined and will not join offensive U.S. military action in Iran. That’s an area where we have not agreed with the United States. But when it comes to securing maritime freedom and free commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, that’s where we are absolutely aligned.”
But the latest ceasefire is tenuous at best. Trump told reporters Monday that the two sides are “talking right now” and that there was “a good chance” a new round of diplomacy with Iran could yield a more permanent ceasefire or diplomatic breakthrough.
The Iranian leadership does not appear to agree.
“At present, what exists cannot be described as a ceasefire,” said Esmail Baghaei, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson.
Commercial shipping in the region remains at a standstill, with dozens of ships full of oil and other cargo bottled up in the gulf.
