Trump defends Iran strikes as necessary to prevent nuclear bomb

President Donald Trump justified the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran Wednesday, telling an audience at the White House that the strikes were necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. "If we didn't hit within two weeks, they would have had a nuclear weapon," Trump declared, adding that "when crazy people have nuclear weapons, bad things happen." He framed the operation as a preemptive measure against an imminent Iranian strike on Israel.

Claims of Nuclear Progress and Leadership Decapitation

Trump reiterated his assertion that US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June had severely degraded the program, describing it as "a complete obliteration of their nuclear potential" that "set them back very, very seriously." He also commented on the campaign's toll on Iranian leadership, stating, "Their leadership is just rapidly going. Everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead." The remarks followed Saturday's large-scale attacks that have killed more than 900 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military officials.

Escalating Conflict and Regional Fallout

The president's comments come as the conflict enters its fifth day, with Iran retaliating through drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Tehran has consistently maintained its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes, a position rejected by Washington and its allies. The escalating violence has drawn international concern over regional stability and potential impacts on global energy markets, as the death toll continues to mount.