Retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) ripped President Trump’s threats against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in recent weeks, amid escalating tensions over the conflict in the Middle East.

“Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” Trump said about the alliance.

Donald Trump is losing the Iran war while Tehran effectively blocks the Strait of Hormuz, says a former Nato chief. General Sir Richard Shirreff, who was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, stressed that this left the US president with the stark choice of de-escalating the conflict or launching what he believes would be a “catastrophic ground war”.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Sunday asked for President Trump’s “understanding” amid his frustrations with allied countries expressing hesitancy to provide support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump says the US and Iran have held “productive conversations” and that he will hold off any military strikes against Iranian energy sites for five days. Follow for live updates.

Retired U.S. Army General and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Wesley Clark, advised President Donald Trump against bombing Iranian power plants on Sunday, warning that such a move could