United States President Donald Trump claimed that he directed Israel’s first attack on Iran, undercutting previous statements from Washington that framed the strike as an independent Israeli move.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said, “Israel attacked first. That attack was very, very powerful. I was very much in charge of that.”
He added, “When Israel attacked Iran first, that was a great day for Israel because that attack did more damage than the rest of them put together.”
Trump made the remarks while urging Republican senators to eliminate the filibuster, arguing that the party should act decisively- just as, he said, Israel did in initiating the conflict with Iran, reports Al Jazeera.
Israel’s unprovoked assault resulted in the deaths of senior Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists and a significant number of civilians on 13 June. Tehran retaliated with hundreds of missiles fired at Israeli territory.
In the days that followed, the US formally joined the hostilities, launching airstrikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear installations. However, at the outset of the war, US stressed Israel had acted without American involvement.
At the time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region.”
Washington also warned Iran against targeting US assets after Israel’s initial attack. A ceasefire eventually took effect after Iran struck a US air base in Qatar with missiles.
Since then, Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the outcome of the conflict, insisting the US “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme. However, he went further, implying he had been instrumental from the very beginning of the war.
Iran, meanwhile, has not publicly disclosed the full extent of damage to its nuclear infrastructure. Officials in Tehran said the programme is still viable because its foundation rests on expertise built over decades.
The status of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles also remains uncertain.
Trump has long promoted himself as a leader who avoids foreign wars, a message central to both his election campaigns. Throughout the conflict, he faced pressure from some of his supporters who wanted the US to stay out of the fight.
In recent weeks, he has again expressed interest in pursuing a deal with Tehran- one that, he suggested, could lead Iran to establish official diplomatic relations with Israel.
During the early months of his second term, Trump reopened nuclear-related talks with Iran, frequently expressing his desire for a comprehensive agreement. But with nuclear diplomacy stalled, analysts say US feels little urgency to revive negotiations.
Tehran, for its part, remains doubtful of Washington’s intentions. US and Iranian officials were scheduled to meet for a fresh round of discussions in June, only days before Israeli warplanes struck Tehran.
