Trump’s Posturing: A Look at the Justification for Threats Against Iran’s Civilian Nuclear Program
Former President Repeats Unsubstantiated Nuclear Claims
In a recent interview, former U.S. President Donald Trump revisited the 2024 military actions against Iran, justifying aggressive airstrikes on the country’s nuclear facilities with an unverified claim. He stated to American journalist Mark Levin, “To be honest with you, I think they would have had a nuclear weapon in four weeks and they might have used it.”
This assertion stands in direct contradiction to Iran’s long-standing and repeatedly stated official doctrine, which explicitly rejects nuclear weapons and maintains that such arms have no place in its defensive strategy.
International Consensus Contradicts Assertions
Further undermining the former president’s claims is the position of international oversight bodies. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global nuclear watchdog, has consistently reported on the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. Notably, even the broader U.S. intelligence community has previously acknowledged that Iran is not actively pursuing the development of a nuclear weapon.
Claims of “War Hero” Status Draw Scrutiny
During the interview, Trump also made remarks regarding cooperation with the former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referring to them both as “war heroes” as a result of their collaborative role in the operation. “He’s a war hero. I think I am too, but nobody cares. I sent those planes,” Trump claimed.
The context for these statements dates to June 13, 2024, following an initial attack by the Israeli regime against Iran. Iran conducted retaliatory strikes against occupied Palestinian territories less than a day later. The U.S. military involvement occurred on the ninth day of the conflict, with its bombers targeting Iranian atomic facilities. In response to these airstrikes, Iran launched an attack on a U.S. airbase in Qatar.
Source: Intitar
