Yvette Cooper refuses to say if US is an ally to Britain just days after Donald Trump warned 'we won't be there for you'

Alice Tomlinson
Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:43:04 +0000

The Foreign Secretary refused to say if US was still an ally to Britain days after President Donald Trump warned that "we won't be there for you".

Yvette Cooper met with over 40 different countries yesterday to discuss possible sanctions on Iran over its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused volatility in the global price of oil.

Dodging questions over the special relationship between the US and the UK, the Foreign Secretary said that Britain and other nations would take "every possible" measure to open up the critical shipping lane.

She described the Islamic Republic as "reckless" as it has continued to attack the shipping lane, where 2,000 vessels remain stuck.

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Whilst avoiding answering questions on whether the US remained an ally, Ms Cooper said: "We want to see the conflict resolved... as rapidly as possible, because, frankly, that's what's best for the cost of living here in the UK."

Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz after the nation was attacked in a joint operation between the US and Iran.

Since then, this has caused price shocks in the global oil price, as generally 20 per cent of the world's oil flows through it.

Increases in the cost of fuel being felt at home - the price of diesel is currently at 185.23p and petrol is 154.45p, according to figures from the RAC.

In a statement published after the meeting, held virtually, Ms Cooper framed Iran as the aggressor, warning that the Islamic Republic "must not prevail".

She said: "Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. They must not prevail.

"It is imperative that international law is respected and that Iran fully re-opens the Strait of Hormuz."

In the statement, she referenced coordinated sanctions on Iran, indicating that the international community is rallying towards punitive measures.

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The US, who initiated the conflict with Israel on February 28, is distinctly not mentioned in the statement, possibly indicating to a further distancing between London and Washington.

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