President cites October 7 attacks and nuclear concerns as reasons for conflict that began February 28.
1:05 PM
United States President Donald Trump has denied that Israel persuaded him to enter into military conflict with Iran, responding to mounting criticism over the war from various segments of his political base.
"Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did," Trump wrote in a social media post on Monday.
The conflict between Israel and the U.S. on one side and Iran on the other began February 28. According to reporting, the impact of the war has become global, with all sides sustaining casualties.
Trump's statement comes as he faces increasing criticism over the decision to engage in the conflict. The president cited the October 7, 2023 attacks against Israel and his longstanding position on Iran's nuclear capabilities as the basis for his decision.
However, there is no public evidence linking Iran directly to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Additionally, Trump's own intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, testified to Congress in March that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon.
The war represents a significant shift in the relationship between Iran and Israel. According to reporting, the two nations were once allies before becoming adversaries. Al Jazeera's coverage notes that Iran and Israel transitioned from friends to enemies, though the specific timeline and circumstances of this historical relationship were not detailed in available reporting.
In the months preceding the declaration of war, Trump had repeatedly referenced U.S. air strikes on Iran that occurred in June, though complete details of those operations were not provided in available sources.
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