The UK is scrambling to show its support for America’s position on Iran.

The focus in Washington, however, is on a growing uncertainty. When asked whether the US was going to war with Iran, President Donald Trump offered an ambiguous “I hope not”.

Assertions of an increased threat from Iran are being led by Mr Trump’s hawkish national security adviser John Bolton. In the past few days it looked like US allies were resisting those claims. But now Britain is backing the US.

Republican senator Lindsay Graham told me it’s good to have the support of an ally, but the real issue here is a lack of clarity from the White House.

“I’m not going to comment on something I don’t know about and I would tell the administration you should pick up the phone and call members of Congress,” he said, “so that we don’t have a microphone put in our face, ask us about why you’re doing something when we have no clue.”

That sentiment is echoing across Capitol Hill from Republicans and Democrats.

Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal said: “The American people have been kept in the dark. It is disgraceful and despicable that we’re on the verge of war and the American people are given this kind of confused and chaotic picture of what the situation is on the ground.”

He added: “We are supposedly going to have a briefing on Tuesday. We’re hearing it may be too late because hostilities may have begun or there may be an escalation of the military situation. That is absolutely petrifying.

“It should be frightening for the American people because it’s armed men and women whose lives can be at risk.”

Even in Mr Trump’s go it alone era, allies still matter. In the heady hand-holding days of Theresa May’s visit to the White House, hopes were high that the relationship could stay special.

But on Brexit, climate change, Russia and immigration to name a few, Mr Trump and Mrs May are hardly kindred spirits.

Huawei is the next big challenge. During US secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s recent trip to London, he warned of an intelligence sharing breakdown if the UK allows the Chinese telecoms giant into its 5G network.

Mr Trump’s executive order has escalated his campaign against the company – putting pressure on allies to follow suit.

Air Force Brigadier General Rob Spalding left the National Security Council in January, and said Huawei could put US-Russia relations under threat.

“If we felt it was a national security risk for ourselves, then over time, maybe there’s going to be less of an inclination to want to share information,” he said.

Amid the pomp and flattery of the upcoming UK state visit, no one should forget that Mr Trump is a president who will always act in his own interests.

But on Iran, it’s not yet clear what they are.

Source: Read Full Article