Trump, Rubio at odds over why Washington struck Iran

US President Donald Trump said he ordered US forces to take part in Israel’s attack on Iran because he feared Tehran would strike first. His statement, however, contradicts that of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who claimed the day before that Washington had acted preemptively to avert Iranian retaliation for the planned Israeli operation.

‘We knew Israel was going to take action; we knew it would provoke an attack against American forces and we knew that if we didn’t take preemptive action against them before they attacked we would suffer greater losses,’ Rubio said.

The differing statements have drawn criticism both at home and abroad. Some conservative commentators argue that Rubio implied the United States was drawn into the conflict under pressure from Israel. Trump rejected this, saying the decision was his alone.

The White House is also trying to mitigate political damage as Republicans prepare for the November congressional elections. Iran claims the US attack was unprovoked.

According to administration officials, the decision to take military action came after talks in Geneva where US envoys pressed Iran to give up uranium enrichment. Tehran refused and proposed continuing the programme, which Washington considered unacceptable.

(reuters, mja)