Thune acknowledges US-UK tension over Iran

Asked if the king’s visit can help resolve the issue, Thune said it “can certainly be helpful.”

by Daniella Cheslow

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday the U.K. is America’s “best ally going back” and “it’s important that that relationship stays strong” but acknowledged the tension between Washington and London, particularly over Iran, as King Charles III prepared to address Congress.

In a brief interview with POLITICO, Thune praised the effort of the U.K. and other nations to open the Strait of Hormuz after Iran effectively closed it in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes. Britain and France have spearheaded a multinational group to help clear the strait, but only after a ceasefire is in place.

“We encourage that, we want to see more of that, and we want to make sure that our NATO allies are allies in practice, as well as in rhetoric,” Thune said.

The reluctance among NATO allies, including the U.K., to join in the war has infuriated the White House. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said it is ”not our war” and that he’s “fed up” with the rising energy prices resulting from Trump’s actions.

Charles is expected to reference NATO and the Middle East in his address, saying “our defense, intelligence and security ties are measured not in years but in decades,” according to royal aides.

Asked if the king’s visit can help resolve the issue, Thune said it “can certainly be helpful.”

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said he could understand why the U.K. refused to go to battle over Iran.

“If you expect you’re going to need help from our allies, you should at least, at a minimum, consult them before you start dropping bombs,” he told POLITICO on Tuesday.