Buckingham Palace has commented after President Donald Trump said King Charles ‘agrees’ with him on Iran.
Since February, the United States and Israel have been involved in conflict with Iran. A major focus has been Iran’s nuclear programme, with Donald Trump repeatedly insisting the country must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are currently in the U.S. for a four-day state visit.
During a formal state dinner on Tuesday night, Trump said the U.S. would “never” permit Iran to secure a nuclear weapon, and implied the King held the same position.
The president said during his speech at the White House dinner on Tuesday: “We’re doing a little Middle East work right now … and we’re doing very well. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever, Charles agrees with me even more than I do, we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.
“They know that, and they’ve known it right now, very powerfully.”
As monarch, King Charles is expected to avoid political positions and remain neutral.
In remarks that followed, the King did not address Iran or the ongoing conflict.
Buckingham Palace later issued a statement through a spokesperson: “The King is naturally mindful of his Government’s long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.”
Earlier in the day, King Charles and President Trump held bilateral talks. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Trump said: “It was a really good meeting. He’s a fantastic person. They’re incredible people and it’s a real honor.”
In his own dinner speech, Charles spoke about the enduring relationship between the UK and the U.S., stressing the importance of keeping the alliance strong. He also referenced earlier periods when ties were tested, including the years after the Suez Crisis and Queen Elizabeth II’s subsequent visit to America.
Charles III addressed guests at the dinner, including Jeff Bezos and Rory McIlroy: “And yes, we have had our moments of difficulty, even in more recent history. When my mother visited in 1957, not the least of her tasks was to help put the ‘special’ back into our relationship after a crisis in the Middle East.”
On Wednesday, the King and Queen Camilla are due to travel from Washington DC to New York. While there, they will visit the 9/11 memorial ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks, meeting first responders and relatives of those who died.