Trump had lobbed insults at Starmer over the latter's initial refusal to have any role in the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began on February 28.
"The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military cooperation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region," Starmer's office said in a statement.
"The prime minister also shared his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six US soldiers.
"They looked forward to speaking again soon," the statement added.
It did not mention whether the pair discussed the apparent fracturing of their close relationship over the past week.
Starmer had worked hard to cultivate a warm relationship with the unpredictable Trump, who was given an unprecedented second state visit to Britain last year.
But he angered Trump by refusing to allow British bases to be used for the US's initial strikes on Iran.
He later agreed to a US request to use two British military bases for a "specific and limited defensive purpose".
US bombers began operating at the Fairford site in Gloucestershire, southwestern England, and the UK-US Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, on Saturday.
Trump said last week he was "not happy with the UK" and mocked Starmer, saying "this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with".
In a post late on Saturday he called Britain "our once Great Ally" and accused Starmer of trying to "join Wars after we've already won!"
Starmer had defended his position by insisting British action "must always have a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan".
He has argued that Iran's retaliatory firing of missiles at British allies and interests in the Middle East justified his change of stance.
US starts using UK bases for 'defensive' Iran operations
Fairford, United Kingdom (AFP) Mar 7, 2026 -
The United States has started using British bases for certain operations against Iran during the Middle East war, the UK government announced Saturday.
Britain's defence ministry said the US had begun using the military sites for "specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region".
Later Saturday, US President Donald Trump rejected what he said were British plans to possibly send two aircraft carriers to the region -- hours after having mocked Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his initial reluctance to get involved in the conflict.
Starmer annoyed Trump for initially refusing to have any role in the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began on February 28.
He later agreed to a US request to use two British military bases for a "specific and limited defensive purpose".
Those bases are Fairford in Gloucestershire, southwestern England, and the UK-US Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.
A US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber landed at Fairford on Saturday, an AFP photographer saw.
An American C-5 Galaxy plane could also be seen on the runway of the base, as anti-war protesters demonstrated outside.
- Trump's broadside -
Earlier in the week, Trump had said he was "not happy with the UK" and mocked Starmer, saying "this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with".
Then in a post late Saturday on his Truth Social platform he dismissed what he said were British plans to possibly send two aircraft carriers to the region.
"The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East," he posted.
"That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer -- But we will remember," he said. "We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!"
Earlier Saturday, the BBC and other UK media speculated that the HMS Prince of Wales, one of Britain's two aircraft carriers, could be deployed to the Mediterranean, though the reports said no decision had yet been taken.
A defence ministry spokesperson said: "HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment."
Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, has defended his initial decision by saying any British action "must always have a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan".
He has also insisted he was right to change that position because Iran's retaliation with missiles and drones to the US-Israeli strikes had threatened British interests and allies in the region.
Lawmakers in Starmer's ruling Labour party remain haunted by former prime minister Tony Blair's disastrous support for the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
A Survation poll of 1,045 Britons published Friday found that 56 percent of respondents believed Starmer was right not to involve Britain in the initial strikes. Only 27 percent said he was wrong.
Several thousand people, many waving Iranian flags, marched through central London to the US embassy on Saturday to protest against the war.
Some demonstrators waved placards with slogans including "Stop Trump's Wars" and "Stop Arming Israel".
Protests across globe mark one week of Iran war
Paris, France (AFP) Mar 7, 2026 -
Lion-emblazoned flags of pre-revolution Iran fluttered in cities across the world on Saturday as demonstrators took to the streets a week after the start of the war in the Middle East.
Europe, Africa and the Americas saw demonstrations, with some protesting against Iran's Islamic regime, others railing against the war, and some in support of Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first US-Israeli strikes of the conflict.
Paris saw two demonstrations: one supporting the US-based Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late shah, to head up a transition, and another denouncing that scenario.
"I support Pahlavi who is calling for a revolution," Masoud Ghanaatian, 35, a student, told AFP at a protest in southern Paris, where participants carried photos of the late shah's son and waved US, Israeli and pre-revolution Iran flags.
"He's a democrat. He can oversee a transition and promises to organise elections."
Hundreds of pro-Pahlavi demonstrations also gathered in Stockholm, holding up pictures of him and his late father.
But farther north, protesters wearing yellow vests reading "Free Iran" showed off stickers on their hands that read "No Shah, no Mullah".
In Amsterdam protesters snaked along one of the city's canals, holding up Israeli, American and pre-revolution Iran flags, as they called on the government to invite Pahlavi to the country and to close the Iranian embassy.
In Israel, anti-war activists and police scuffled during a protest against eh war in HaBima Square in Tel Aviv.
Shortly after dawn in Britain, anti-war protesters gathered at the entrance of an air force base in Fairford, southwest of England, holding signs reading "Hands off Iran," "Peace" and "Yanks go home".
- 'Assassins' -
A demonstrations against the war also took place in Cyprus.
Outside the US consulate in Mexico City, protesters carried a placard with pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with blood-soaked palms over the word "Assassins" and kicked pinatas with images of the two leaders.
In the United States, protesters carried Iranian, Lebanese and Palestinian flags and signs "Iran is not our enemy" and "No war on Iran" in downtown Detroit, Michigan.
In Washington DC, demonstrators gathered at the National Mall carrying US, Israeli and Iranian flags, with some protesters painting the colours of the Iranian flags on their cheeks.
In Boston, Iranian Americans gathered at Copley Square to call for the fall of the Islamic republic.
In South Africa -- which has dragged Israel to International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide during the Gaza war, a charge Israel denies -- dozens gathered in front of the US consulate in Johannesburg, holding up photos of Khamenei, the Islamic republic's flag and signs bashing Israel.
Protesters carried pictures of Khamenei and denounced the war in central Tunis in Tunisia.
In Cape Town, Iranian pro-democracy activists and supporters of Israel waved Israeli flags and chanted slogans in the Albert Waterfront shopping mall.
Several counter-protesters carried signs denouncing Israel and in support of the Palestinians.
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