Former President Donald Trump asserted that Israel and the entire Middle East would cease to exist if he were not in the presidency, defending military actions against Iran. His remarks came as U.S. and Iranian forces intensified attacks, following a period of reduced hostilities in the ongoing six-month conflict.
Speaking on Fox News, Trump characterized the Iranian government as "violent, evil people" and reiterated his stance that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons, warning that such an outcome would lead to the obliteration of Israel and the region. "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," Trump stated. He also noted that Iran's aggressive actions have alienated its allies and even those who were previously neutral, citing attacks on Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
Trump suggested that Iran's turn against its neighbors meant they "lost all of the support they had." He expressed concern that had Iran possessed nuclear weapons during this period, they "would have fired it." He added, "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." Trump reaffirmed his commitment that "you cannot let them have a nuclear weapon and they won't have a nuclear weapon."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously ruled out diplomatic negotiations with Iran, aligning with Trump's economic pressure campaign. Netanyahu stated that he doubted an agreement could be reached with Iran, whom he described as "savages." He also indicated discussions with Trump about renewing military action, emphasizing that Israel would respond with overwhelming force if attacked.
Netanyahu lauded Trump's "economic D-Day" strategy, aimed at crippling Iran's economy. Trump, in turn, has expressed that he is "not in a hurry" to engage Iran in negotiations, asserting that the country's leadership is in a weakened state with limited resources. "They're not paying their troops. They're in deep trouble. They have very little capacity," Trump told reporters.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has identified the U.S. and Israel as enemies of Islamic nations, urging Muslim leaders to "know your real enemy, understand its plans and confront it." These comments followed reports of U.S. forces striking two rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian forces reportedly attacking U.S. troops in Jordan in response. The U.S. military confirmed monitoring the area and readiness to protect the free flow of commerce.
The renewed conflict escalates tensions as the Trump administration shifts its strategy toward increased economic pressure, with the Treasury Department preparing to unveil new secondary sanctions. This approach follows penalties imposed on financial institutions with alleged links to Iran. The administration is considering punishing any entity conducting business with Tehran, a strategy prompted in part by concerns over diminished munitions stockpiles after months of conflict.
Both the U.S. and Israel claim their campaign has severely impacted Iran's military capabilities, with Iranian officials reporting substantial economic damages. Despite these claims, Iran has maintained leverage through strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil transit. While Trump has stated the strait remains open, vessel traffic has significantly decreased since the war began. A recent report indicated an unknown projectile struck a tanker ship in the strait, with no immediate claim of responsibility.