Trump: Iran would have attacked first

Before meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, US President Donald Trump said the United States had achieved significant military successes against Iran. He added that, had the US and Israel not launched their strikes, Iran would have attacked first.

In the Oval Office, he claimed that Iran’s air defences and detection systems had been virtually destroyed and that ‘almost everything had been taken out’.

According to Trump, the conflict had been initiated by Tehran, which he said had also planned to attack civilian targets and countries not directly involved. He further suggested that he could have pressured Israel to act more forcefully.

He said the number of people seeking immunity in Iran was allegedly increasing and that the US would continue its operations. At the same time, he acknowledged the risk that any potential regime change might not lead to an improvement. Alongside Iran, he said he intended to discuss possible trade agreements between the US and Germany with Merz.

(reuters, mja)