Former President Donald Trump stated that if he were not president, both Israel and the entire Middle East would be destroyed, defending the ongoing conflict with Iran. His remarks came on a night when U.S. and Iranian attacks intensified following a brief lull in the six-month war.
Speaking on Fox News, Trump characterized the Iranian government as "violent, evil people" and reiterated his stance that they must never obtain nuclear weapons. "If they had a nuclear weapon, Israel would be gone. If I weren't President, Israel would be gone and there would probably be no Middle East," he said.
Trump suggested that Iran's actions have alienated its allies and even neutral parties since the war began. "As soon as the shooting started, they started aiming at Saudi Arabia, Qatar, at UAE, at Bahrain, at Kuwait, everybody was shocked. I was surprised," he noted, adding that from his perspective, Iran's actions were beneficial as they lost crucial support.
He expressed concern that Iran's behavior toward its neighboring nations suggests that "if they would have had a nuclear weapon, they would have fired it." Trump further claimed, "I think the Middle East would have essentially been gone but Israel definitely would have been gone and I guess we would be next, or Europe or someplace." He reaffirmed his commitment that "you cannot let them have a nuclear weapon and they won't have a nuclear weapon."
Earlier in the week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out diplomatic solutions with Iran, backing Trump's economic pressure campaign. Netanyahu stated he told Trump that he doubted an agreement could be reached with the current Iranian leadership, whom he described as "savages." He also indicated discussions with Trump about renewing military action, vowing that Iran would face severe retaliation if it attacked.
Trump recently declared an "economic D-Day" aimed at crippling Iran's economy. He told reporters that Iran's leadership is in a precarious position, facing financial difficulties and limited capacity. "We don't want to speak to them. We're not looking to meet or anything," Trump stated.
Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, urged Muslim nations to identify their "real enemy" and confront what he described as the U.S. and Israel's agenda against Islamic nations, according to the official IRNA news agency. Khamenei has not been publicly seen since U.S. and Israeli attacks six months prior, which reportedly killed his father and other senior leaders.
Recent military actions saw U.S. forces strike two rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, after which Tehran reportedly attacked American troops in Jordan. Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was observed preparing to launch rockets and sea mines into the strait. U.S. forces are monitoring the area and remain prepared to protect commercial shipping.
The IRGC issued a statement noting the "martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters and compatriots" and promised retaliation. Fox News reported that Iranian forces attacked U.S. troops in Jordan, with most incoming missiles being intercepted without significant impact.
This escalation follows the Trump administration's stated shift toward increasing economic pressure, rather than military action, against Iran. Secretary Scott Bessent indicated the Treasury Department is likely to unveil new secondary sanctions targeting Iran's economy, following recent penalties against UAE branches of Egypt's Banque Misr for alleged financial ties to Iran.
The administration's strategy change is influenced by concerns over diminished munitions stockpiles after months of conflict, potentially impacting U.S. military readiness globally. Trump has consistently highlighted the impact of U.S. and Israeli campaigns on Iran's military, with Iranian officials reporting significant economic damage. However, Iran has leveraged its capabilities to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy waterway through which approximately 20 percent of the world's oil normally flows.
Despite Trump's assertions that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, commercial traffic has been reduced. A multinational coalition overseen by the U.S. Navy confirmed reduced traffic levels. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization reported an incident Saturday where an unknown projectile struck a tanker ship north of Khasab, Oman, in the strait, with no reported casualties or environmental impact. No group immediately claimed responsibility.
A return to open conflict poses risks to the region, where Iran has targeted U.S. military bases and infrastructure in Gulf countries since the war began on February 28. The last confirmed U.S. military targeting of Iran occurred on July 29, with a series of strikes on IRGC sites. Trump had previously ordered a halt to new strikes on August 1, following appeals from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.