The Pentagon is looking at ways the US can punish NATO countries for not supporting the Iran war.

07:25, Fri, Apr 24, 2026 Updated: 07:51, Fri, Apr 24, 2026

Donald Trump reacts as he speaks in the Oval Office before signing an Executive Order April 18, 2026 in Washington, DC

Donald Trump is exploring ways of punishing NATO countries that didn't support the US's Iran war (Image: Getty)

Donald Trump's Pentagon officials are exploring ways the United States can punish NATO countries for failing to support the Iran war, including by reportedly reviewing Britain's claim to the Falklands Islands. An official told the Reuters news agency that options are detailed in an email where some NATO members are singled out for not granting the US access, basing and overflight rights for its Middle East war.

An option included in the message is to consider reassessing US diplomatic support for European "imperial possessions", such as the Falkland Islands. The archipelago in the South Atlantic is a self-governing British Overseas Territory, which has long been claimed by Argentina. The UK went to war against Argentina to defend its sovereignty after the Argentinians invaded the islands in 1982. Argentina's current leader, Javier Milei, is one of Mr Trump's staunchest allies.

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Britain initially refused to allow the US to attack Iran from two of its bases in the UK. The Labour Government later gave permission for defensive operations to protect British interests in the Gulf amid retaliatory Iranian airstrikes.

The US President has repeatedly tried to ramp up pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to do more to assist the White House's war efforts.

Mr Trump has previously claimed Sir Keir is cowardly and "no Winston Churchill" in a souring of US-UK relations. He has also criticised NATO members for not helping to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks.

Britain's ambassador to the US, Sir Christian Turner, said last week the UK will make a wide-ranging military contribution to international efforts to protect shipping in the strait.

The UK has also been leading an international push to ensure the future security of the shipping lane, through which in normal times 20% of the world's supply of hydrocarbons flowed.