Trump Defends Decision to Go to War with Iran

Donald Trump said he does not regret going to war against Iran, despite the impact the conflict could have on November’s US midterm elections. In an interview with Fox News, he added that if he had to make the decision again, he would do exactly the same thing.

Trump also rejected suggestions that his supporters were upset or demoralized by the war. According to the president, they were instead proud that he was trying to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Trump reiterated that he expects the war to end immediately after the November elections and accused Tehran of trying to influence their outcome. The conflict has become a major domestic issue for Republicans, particularly because of rising oil and gas prices.

The war followed decades of confrontation between Iran, Israel and the US. Iran has long funded, armed and trained Hezbollah in Lebanon and backed other armed groups across the region, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq and Syria. The US has designated Iran a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984.

The US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, prompting Tehran to strike Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed thousands of people and displaced millions.

Iran does not have nuclear weapons and maintains that its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful purposes.

(Reuters, mja)