President Donald Trump said advisers pushed him toward ordering strikes on Iran, shifting responsibility to key officials. He named negotiator Steve Witkoff, adviser Jared Kushner, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The remarks came as tensions remain high following US military action against Iran.
Speaking at a press conference in Florida, Trump said the situation with Iran had rapidly reached a “point of no return.” He explained that discussions with Witkoff, Kushner, and Hegseth convinced him that Iran was preparing to attack the United States. Trump said he believed Iran would have launched an attack within a week if the United States had not acted first.
Read more: Trump claims US strikes on Iran a global “service”
The US president also claimed that American strikes destroyed 51 Iranian naval vessels. He said Iranian drone attacks had dropped by 83 percent after targeting Iran’s drone manufacturing facilities. Trump added that the United States possesses inexpensive interceptors capable of countering Iranian drone threats.
Furthermore, Trump warned Iran against disrupting global oil supplies or closing the Strait of Hormuz. He said the United States would respond with strong military action if such moves occurred. Trump also noted that some oil-related sanctions might be eased to stabilize global energy prices.
Read more: Trump rules out deal with Iran except ‘unconditional surrender’
In another statement, Trump suggested the war with Iran could end soon but warned Tehran against further escalation. He also said investigations were underway into reports of an attack on a girls’ school in Iran. Meanwhile, he expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s new supreme leader and questioned whether Iran’s leadership could pursue peace.