Buckingham Palace issues statement after Donald Trump claims King agrees Iran cannot have nuclear weapons

Svar Nanan-Sen
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:03:27 +0000

Buckingham Palace has responded to Donald Trump's assertion that King Charles shares his stance on Iran, issuing a carefully worded statement.

The Palace spokesperson told GB News: "The King is naturally mindful of his Government's long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation."

The diplomatic response comes after the US president suggested during Tuesday's White House state dinner that the King backed his efforts to deny Tehran nuclear capabilities.

President Trump indicated he had spoken privately with the King about the Middle East situation prior to the formal dinner.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

During his speech at the state dinner, the president declared that the United States had "militarily defeated that particular opponent" in reference to Iran.

"We're doing a little Middle East work right now. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we're never going to let that opponent ever Charles agrees with me we're never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon," President Trump stated.

Earlier that same day, King Charles had emphasised that NATO remained "more important than ever" given current global circumstances.

The president's comments are widely interpreted as criticism of Sir Keir Starmer, whose refusal to participate in the Iran conflict has created tension with Washington.

The tensions between the Prime Minister and President Trump have escalated considerably, creating a diplomatic rift that British officials had hoped this royal visit might help repair.

Behind closed doors, UK Government representatives were optimistic that the King's presence at the White House would provide an opportunity to smooth over differences between the two leaders.

The strained relationship stems from fundamental disagreements over military involvement in the ongoing Iranian situation.

In his earlier address to Congress, the King underscored the enduring strength of the transatlantic relationship, reminding lawmakers of Britain's support for America following the September 11 attacks.

King Charles referenced the Iranian conflict, the necessity of backing Ukraine, and environmental protection during his speech.

"The alliance that our two Nations have built over the centuries and for which we are profoundly grateful to the American people is truly unique," the King told Congress.

He invoked Henry Kissinger's description of Kennedy's "soaring vision" of Atlantic partnership, declaring it more vital now than ever before.

The King also quoted Sir Keir Starmer, who last month described the UK-US relationship as "an indispensable partnership" that must be built upon rather than disregarded.