U.S President, Donald Trump has defended the United States’ military conflict with Iran, arguing that the war enjoys public support because of concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and the threat he says such weapons could pose to American cities.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump dismissed suggestions that the war with Iran is politically unpopular. Instead, he argued that public opinion shifts when people consider the potential consequences of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
Trump said that he thinks the US war with Iran is popular and that even if it’s not, stopping Tehran from having a nuclear weapon is a worthwhile mission. “Look, everyone tells me it’s unpopular, but I think it’s very popular when you, when they hear that it’s having to do with nuclear weapons, weapons that could take out Los Angeles, could take out major cities very quick,” he told reporters at the White House.
“Whether it’s popular or not popular, I have to do it, because I’m not going to let the world be blown up on my watch. It’s not going to happen.”
Donald Trump
Also, Trump put a limited timeline on his decision to temporarily pause planned attacks on Iran as negotiators in the region work toward a potential peace deal. Trump, who has grown increasingly frustrated with the state of negotiations, said in a social media post on Monday that he will “hold off” on a Tuesday plan to attack Iran, citing a request from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Speaking to reporters, he said that would last for “a limited period of time.”
“I’m saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week — a limited period of time. Because we can’t let them have a new nuclear weapon.”
Donald Trump
The U.S President said that he was on the verge of launching new strikes on Iran before he postponed the attack yesterday at the request of several Gulf nations. “I was an hour away; we were all set to go,” he said, adding, “It would’ve been happening right now.”
Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social that he postponed the attack after the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar urged him to hold off in hopes of advancing negotiations toward a diplomatic solution.
“I was an hour away from making the decision to go today. They had heard I made the decision and said, ‘Sir, could you give us a couple more days because we think they’re being reasonable?’”
Donald Trump
The U.S President said that he spoke with the Gulf states over two days while contemplating renewed strikes, saying, “We’re all working together.” He said that the nations called him to say that “they made a lot of progress” toward negotiations with Iran. Pressed on Gulf leaders’ concerns that renewed US strikes could prompt Iran to retaliate against their nations, Trump acknowledged that it remained a risk. “They still have a little capacity,” he said of Iran’s ability to attack others in the Middle East. “Not much, but they have a little,” he said
Trump added that he was willing to wait until later this week to see whether talks progressed, but continued to warn that he could resume combat operations. “We may have to give them another big hit,” he said of Iran.
Official Declines To State If Congressional Authorization To Restart Operations Against Tehran Will Be Sought
A senior Pentagon official declined to say whether the Trump administration would rule out putting US boots on the ground in Iran and did not say whether it would seek congressional authorization to restart operations against Tehran.
Rep. Patrick Ryan asked during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, “Are we reinitiating offensive combat operations?” “Of course, that decision is the President’s to make,” responded Daniel Zimmerman, Assistant Secretary of defense for international security affairs. “Is that an option that’s been briefed to him?” Ryan asked. “Well, Mr. Congressman, it’s his decision to make,” Zimmerman said.
“Are you planning to ask Congress this time for a declaration or an authorization now that we’re almost three months in?” Ryan pressed. “As you know, right now there are negotiations going on at the highest order to try to achieve a long-term solution,” Zimmerman said.
He also declined to say whether one of the options going forward would put US military forces on the ground in Iran, saying President Donald Trump “retains the options at his disposal.”
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