Speculation over whether Donald Trump will order US strikes against Iran dominates Thursday’s papers. The Metro dubs it “ArmagedDon” and reports that Iran has threatened the US with “irreparable harm” if Trump approves attacks on nuclear sites. The paper also quotes Trump’s warning to Tehran that “next week is going to be very big – maybe less than a week”.
Trump “keeps world waiting” is how the Guardian sums up the situation. The US president told reporters “I may do, I may not” when asked about the US joining Israel’s campaign against Iran.
The Financial Times says the US “holds the key” to any strike capable of destroying Iran’s underground nuclear sites, a reference to its arsenal of huge missiles capable of piercing the ground to reach subterranean targets. Elsewhere, the FT says the US has issued the UK a national security warning over plans to involved a Chinese firm in a major wind turbine development.
The Sun describes the ongoing diplomatic stand-off between Washington and Tehran as “war of the words”. Also pictured is Jodie Comer at the premier of the much-anticipated 28 Years Later film.
The Times says the UK is weighing whether to provide the US with military support in the event Trump decides to strike Iran. The PM called a meeting of the Cobra crisis committee on Wednesday amid mounting concerns that the UK could be dragged into the conflict.
Attorney General Lord Hermer has warned Sir Keir Starmer that UK involvement in a US attack on Iran “could be illegal”, reports the Daily Telegraph. Sharing the front page is a photograph of the mother of the Princess of Wales, Carole Middleton, at Royal Ascot on Thursday.
The i leads on another defence story, reporting that the UK is pushing to delay Nato from asking its members to rapidly ramp up spending. Both the military alliance’s chief Mark Rutte and Trump favour setting a 5% target for members. The UK reportedly wants that target to be pushed back to 2035 from 2032.
The welfare bill is “on course to rocket by £18bn a year” according to the Daily Mail. The paper says that without reform, spending on benefits could rise to more than the “entire police budget”.
The Daily Mirror says there is “fury at welfare reforms” and quotes campaigners who say restricting access to personal independence payments could be “catastrophic” for disabled people.
The Daily Express leads on an interview with Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter, who has urged MPs to support the assisted dying bill and “give us choice over our deaths”. Dame Esther has be a long-time campaigner for assisted dying to be introduced in the UK.
And finally, the Daily Star reports that spectators have “blasted” Royal Ascot bosses after bins were dumped near a statue of jockey Frankie Dettori.
