US defense secretary Pete Hegseth has accused America’s European allies of being “ungrateful” and said they should be “thanking” Donald Trump for his war on Iran.
Speaking at a briefing at the Pentagon on Thursday, Mr Hegseth said Washington’s allies should be appreciative of the US effort to “stop this terror state from holding the world hostage with missiles while building or attempting to build a nuclear bomb”.
American officials, including President Trump, have repeatedly criticised Nato allies for not supporting the US-Israeli war on Iran. Earlier this week, Mr Trump claimed that Nato had “abandoned the US in our time of need” but stressed: “We don’t need their help”.
Oil prices surged to $114 (£86) on Thursday morning after Mr Trump warned the US will “massively blow up” a key Iranian natural gas field if Tehran continues to attack “very innocent” Qatar.
Brent Crude Oil prices have soared more than 13 per cent in a week after Iran struck energy facilities in neighbouring Gulf countries in retaliation against an Israeli attack on its South Pars gas field.