President Donald Trump pushed back on claims from some regarding US policy in seeing to it that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, and argued, “You can’t have peace if Iran has a nuclear weapon.”
In an interview with The Atlantic's Michael Scherer, Trump was asked about some commentators who have argued that the US should not support Israel as it has attacked Iran over the last couple days and have said that staying out of the conflict would be “America First” policy. Trump defended his administration's stance in the interview.
“Well, considering that I'm the one that developed ‘America First,’ and considering that the term wasn't used until I came along, I think I'm the one that decides that,” Trump said. “For those people who say they want peace—you can’t have peace if Iran has a nuclear weapon. So for all of those wonderful people who don’t want to do anything about Iran having a nuclear weapon—that’s not peace.”
One such commentator is Tucker Carlson, who criticized the US government’s involvement with the conflict, and wrote online on Friday, “Washington knew these attacks would happen. They aided Israel in carrying them out. Politicians purporting to be America First can’t now credibly turn around and say they had nothing to do with it. Our country is in deep.”
When asked, Trump said he hadn’t heard Carlson’s comments directly but dismissed the criticism, reiterating his administration’s position.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, very simple. Regardless—Israel or not Israel—Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb,” Trump said.
Israel recently carried out a high-level strike against Iran targeting its nuclear facilities and top scientists. Trump acknowledged that he had been informed about the operation before it was launched.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb,” Trump told Fox News after the strike took place. “We are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership in Iran that will not be coming back.”
The president has urged Iran to come to the negotiation table following the attack and agree to concessions regarding its nuclear program. However, Iran has reportedly put talks on hold in the wake of the Israeli strike.
