Hello and welcome to NewsHour.
It's coming to you live from the BBC World Service studios in central London.
I'm Tim Franks.
Iran may still be the main target for the combined might of the US and Israeli military.
But today, once again, President Trump has also taken aim at his country's allies, in particular the United Kingdom.
Get some courage, he said in an early morning social media post.
Go to the Strait of Hormuz and seize the blockaded oil yourselves.
And while you're at it, 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 when we.
Decapitated Iran.
Shortly afterwards, his Defence Secretary,
Pete Hegseth, in a briefing to journalists, amplified the call with a rather sardonic dig at Britain's naval forces.
I think the President was clear this morning in his truth that there are countries around the world
who ought be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well.
It's not just the United States Navy.
Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big,
bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.
So he's pointing out.
This is an international waterway that we use less than most, in fact, dramatically less than most.
Pete Hegseth a little earlier today.