'Operation epic chaos' and Trump 'very disappointed in Keir'
The papers are dominated by conflict across the Middle East for the third day in a row. Metro's headline declares "Operation epic chaos", and the accompanying story says the world is reeling from "Trump's war on Iran". According to the paper, the country's leaders have "vowed bloody vengeance" after the killing of the Ayatollah, detailing a "chaotic third day" of Donald Trump's Operation Epic Fury. It adds that the the president has "insisted" that he is "knocking the crap out of Iran".
"Fears grow as Iran conflict spreads across Middle East" says the Guardian, alongside a photograph of people fleeing after a strike in Tehran damaged a residential building. The paper says Monday saw the war in the Middle East expand "dramatically", with "casualties and destruction" reported across at least nine countries.
The Financial Times considers the effect of the conflict on the global energy supply, reporting that Iranian attacks on energy sites have triggered the biggest price increase on natural gas since Russia's invasion of Ukraine four years ago. The paper says that Iran's attacks have also stopped the flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which sees approximately one fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies pass through.
Trump is pictured front and centre of the Daily Telegraph, after he told the paper that he was "very disappointed" in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his initial refusal to let US forces use British military bases. Sir Keir formally gave permission on Sunday evening, but Trump told the Telegraph that the change of heart took "far too long".
The Daily Express also quotes Trump's interview with the Daily Telegraph, and says the prime minister is being "slammed" for his "pathetic" response to the crisis in the Middle East. The paper calls it a "fresh humiliation" for Sir Keir, and adds that critics are warning that his response is threatening the "special relationship" between the UK and the US.
"Starmer and Trump clash" declares the I Paper, following a statement from Sir Keir in which he said that the UK did not believe in "regime change from the skies". It characterises his quotes as "unusual public rebuke", and says US Secretary of Defence Peter Hegseth has mocked the UK and Europe for "pearl clutching" as conflict spreads across the Middle East.
The quotes from Hegseth lead the Daily Mail, which writes that Sir Keir has "risked aggravating the White House" with his suggestion that the attack on Iran was illegal and set to unravel.
"Inaction this day" reads the headline of the Sun, reporting that the prime minister has "ruled out retaliation" after a "blitz" on an RAF base in Cyprus. According to the paper, one MP described Sir Keir's response as being in "stark contrast" with that of wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill, who famously said "action this day".
Evacuation proposals are in the process of being drawn up, says the Dai;ly Mirror, after more than 102,000 Britons registered with the Foreign Office in a "plea for help". Detailing "chaos & fear", the paper suggests that despite the success of the US operation to kill Iran's supreme leader, Trump appears to have "underestimated the regime's resolve".
"Big strike coming" warns the Times, following claims from Trump on Monday night that the "big one is coming soon" to Iran. The paper notes that the president has not ruled out a ground attack on the Middle Eastern nation, but suggested that it would be unnecessary, as the US has not begun "hitting them hard". It quotes an interview between Trump and media outlet CNN, where he said that the "big wave" of strikes is still to come.
The Daily Star says the conflict will "all be over by Easter", in reference to Trump's suggestion that the operation in Iran will end in five weeks.
