Fury as US war secretary Pete Hegseth sparked a backlash by mocking the ‘big, bad Royal Navy’.
In the latest American blast at Britain over the Iran war, the former Fox News host demanded the UK and other countries ‘step up’ to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In response to US and Israeli attacks, which began at the end of last month, Iran has effectively closed the crucial sea passage and sent global fuel prices soaring.
Hegseth suggested it was ‘not just the US Navy’ who should be responsible for getting tankers moving through the waterway again, as he backed up earlier comments by Donald Trump.
The US President, on his TruthSocial site dramatically washed his hands of the Middle East crisis and told Keir Starmer to ‘go get your own oil’ as Europe’s supplies dry up.
Trump said Tuesday: ‘All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
‘You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.
‘Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil! President DJT.’
Trump added he had done ‘the hard part’ by launching the war on Iran, insisting countries like the UK would have to reopen the blocked Strait.
Britain’s last known shipment of jet fuel from the Middle East is due to arrive within 48 hours amid alarm over shortages within a week.
The consignment on the Libyan-flagged Maetiga vessel is expected to reach the UK from Saudi Arabia on Thursday, according to data providers Kpler and Vortexa.
No other tankers bound for the UK have made it through the Strait.
