Britain did not fully support America in the Iran war, although it provided limited assistance. That is why US President Donald Trump is angry with Kier Starmer’s country. He clarified that all those countries, including Britain, did not help the US campaign against Iran, they brought their own oil.

On Tuesday, Trump wrote on the social media Truth Social, “All the countries that did not stand by America to decapitate Iran should cross the Strait of Hormuz and bring their own oil.” Or buy from America.’ Expressing dismay at ‘friendly’ countries, he further wrote, ‘Learn to fight yourselves. America will not help you in this matter.’ Trump added, ‘Many countries, including Britain, are not getting oil due to the blockade of Hormuz. At the same time, they did not side with America in the Iran war. Now you have two options. Either you buy oil from America or bring your own oil across the Hormuz.’

Note that Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime waterways. About 20 to 22 million barrels of crude oil are exported daily through this narrow strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. This is about one-fifth of the total crude oil shipped by sea worldwide. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates export oil through this channel. Along with oil, significant amounts of natural gas—especially liquefied natural gas (LNG)—reach global markets using this route. Qatar is one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas. They depend on gas exports through Hormuz. For all these reasons, Hormuz is called the ‘energy lifeline of the world’. Iran has closed Hormuz to the rest of the world with ‘concessions’ to India, China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan. As a result, there is an energy crisis.