Trump threatens Iran in Scotland, seeks nuclear cooperation with Starmer

US President Donald Trump warned Iran today over its nuclear programme. He did so, according to Reuters, at a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where they discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, Russia’s war in Ukraine and trade. The two leaders also agreed on possible cooperation in the field of small modular reactors. Trump also commented on the possible level of tariffs on China.

Starmer said closer cooperation with the United States on small modular reactors would benefit his country. “I think the two of us can work much more closely together than we are now, and we agreed that this is our goal,” he said. Neither leader outlined specific steps they might take in this area.

After their meeting, Trump commented on the situation in Iran. “They are sending really bad signals, which they shouldn’t be doing. We obliterated their nuclear facilities. They can start again. And if they do, we’ll destroy them again,” the US president said.

Trump also commented on the level of tariffs the United States plans to impose on China. “We will set tariffs for the rest of the world, and they will have to pay them too,” Trump said, adding that they should be around 15 to 20 percent. He described US-China relations as good and said that, in his view, the Asian country should open up more to the world. Meanwhile, US diplomats today began another round of trade talks with their Chinese counterparts in Sweden.

After today’s meeting with Starmer, Trump is also scheduled to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney, as he said after their talks. He declined to comment on Scottish independence, saying he did not want to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.