In a striking claim from the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump said he may have “forced Israel’s hand” on Iran, rejecting suggestions that Washington acted only because Israel was preparing to strike first.
Speaking to reporters, Trump disputed the idea that Israel’s plans to attack Iran prompted him to launch US strikes.
“They were going to attack if we didn’t do it, they were going to attack first,” he said of Iran. “I felt strongly about that.”
‘WE WERE READY’
Trump went further, suggesting that if anyone accelerated events, it was him.
“If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand, but Israel was ready, and we were ready, and we’ve had a very, very powerful impact, because virtually everything they have has been knocked out. Now their missile count is going way down,” he said.
The remarks indicate that the US President views the strikes as pre-emptive and decisive, framing them as action taken to blunt what he described as an imminent Iranian move.
CONTRADICTION WITH RUBIO’S REMARKS
Trump’s comments come a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the President authorised strikes because Washington believed Israel was poised to take unilateral military action against Iran.
Rubio’s remarks had indicated that US involvement was shaped by the assessment that Israel was prepared to move independently. Trump’s latest comments appear aimed at reframing that narrative, presenting the strikes as a deliberate and pre-emptive US decision rather than a reluctant alignment.
‘FINISH OFF THE MILITARY’
The President signalled that operations may not yet be over.
“We’ll see what happens in Iran but first we have to finish off the military,” he said, without providing details of further action.
Iran, meanwhile, has warned of retaliation. A senior Revolutionary Guards official, quoted by Iranian news agencies, said Tehran would hit “all regional economic centres if its main centres are hit”.
ALLIES, TRADE AND OIL
Trump also delivered mixed assessments of key allies. “Germany has been great on Iran,” he said, while adding, “Not happy with UK either.”
He went further on Spain, saying, “We’re going to cut all trade with Spain,” and added that he had told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “clear off all dealings with Spain after Iran response”. He did not elaborate on what prompted the move.
On diplomatic preparedness, Trump said there was “no evacuation plan for embassies because it happened very quickly”.
Addressing market concerns, he predicted any rise in crude prices would be short-lived. “You could have oil prices for a little while but will drop,” he said, adding that prices would fall once Iranian action ends.
In a brief remark likely to attract attention in Tehran, Trump said, “Someone from within might be more appropriate for Iran,” without clarifying what he meant.
With military operations continuing and threats of retaliation mounting, the exchange of statements reflects a widening confrontation that now carries implications far beyond the immediate battlefield.
