Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he was aware of Israel’s plan to carry out airstrikes on Tehran before they occurred, but firmly stated that the United States had no direct role in the operation. His comments came during an interview with Fox News, as tensions in the Middle East reached new heights.
Trump emphasized that while Washington was kept in the loop and he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the days leading up to the attack, the decision and execution were entirely Israeli-led. “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb,” Trump said, expressing hope for a return to diplomatic talks. “We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back.”
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The Israeli strikes early Friday resulted in the deaths of several top Iranian figures, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, and nuclear scientists Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi and Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi.
Despite Trump’s insistence on non-involvement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejected the claim, arguing that such an attack could not have taken place without U.S. coordination. Tehran warned of “dangerous consequences” and stressed its right to respond under international law.
Trump also revealed that the U.S. had recently restocked Israel’s Iron Dome system and confirmed that U.S. forces, including CENTCOM, are on high alert for any retaliation from Iran. He maintained the stance that the U.S. stands ready to defend itself and its allies.
