Former US President Donald Trump publicly criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially blocking the United States from using British military bases for operations against Iran.

"We are very disappointed with Keir," Trump stated in an interview published by The Daily Telegraph on Monday. "This situation is probably unprecedented in the history of relations between our two countries. It sounds like he was worried about legal compliance issues."

Starmer had previously refused a US request to use Royal Air Force Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, and the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean for strikes against Iran, citing concerns over the legality of such actions.

However, on Sunday evening, the Prime Minister announced that he had approved a new US request, permitting the use of these bases for what he described as "defensive operations" targeting Iranian missile facilities.

Starmer explained that his change in position was prompted by Iran launching "indiscriminate" attacks against British allies in the Gulf, which placed thousands of British citizens in the region at risk. The UK government also released legal advice justifying the use of the bases for defensive purposes.

The decision to provide limited assistance carries significant political risks for Starmer, who has been working to quell internal challenges to his leadership within the ruling Labour Party this year. The move also evokes memories of former Prime Minister Tony Blair's support for the invasion of Iraq over two decades ago.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized in a BBC interview on Monday that the current situation differs fundamentally from the Iraq War due to the limited scope of British involvement. "This does not involve supporting any political, economic, or broader infrastructure objectives. The nature of this engagement is distinctly different from previous actions," she stated.

In his Daily Telegraph interview, Trump also reiterated his criticism of Starmer's decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, where the Diego Garcia base is located, to Mauritius.

"If he had retained ownership of the land instead of handing it over to parties who are not the legitimate owners, the legal situation would be far more straightforward," Trump commented.