US Decision to Attack Iran Was Right, Major Objective Achieved; Iran Would Have Built Nuclear Weapons If We Had Not Acted: Trump

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has defended the American military operation against Iran, saying the decision to launch the attack was correct and that the United States has achieved its major objective of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

In an interview with British news channel GB News journalist Bev Turner, Trump said that had the United States not taken military action against Iran, Tehran would have developed nuclear weapons. According to Trump, Iran was close to acquiring the capability to build a nuclear weapon before the US operation.

The US president claimed that American strikes had inflicted severe damage on Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities. He said Iran’s navy and air force had been defeated and that major parts of the country’s military infrastructure and leadership had also suffered extensive damage.

Trump said the US had damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities and military capabilities to such an extent that rebuilding an effective nuclear programme would be extremely difficult for Tehran. However, there has been no independent confirmation that Iran’s entire nuclear capability has been eliminated.

The US president also claimed that American forces had targeted new Iranian defence systems. According to Trump, Iran had attempted to deploy new radar and missile systems near the Strait of Hormuz, which were subsequently targeted by US forces.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Trump claimed that the United States had control over the strategically important waterway and that shipping activity was continuing despite the military confrontation. However, the current level of commercial maritime activity in the Strait and the extent of US control require independent verification.

Trump also said that economic pressure on Iran would continue. He claimed that US military action, sanctions and other measures were placing increasing pressure on Tehran and that the Iranian economy was facing severe difficulties.

The US president said the military campaign against Iran would not continue for a long period. At the same time, he warned that the United States could launch further military action if Iran attempted to rebuild its military or nuclear capabilities.

Trump described the US operation as a success, saying the United States had “already won” because Iran had been prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He also indicated that the conflict could end soon.

Meanwhile, tensions between the United States and Iran remain high. Iran has continued to respond to the US military campaign, while the conflict has also affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, oil supplies and global energy markets.