US President Donald Trump has said that the military strike on Iran averted a possible World War III, stressing that without US intervention Tehran would soon have a nuclear weapon.
Speaking from the Oval Office of the White House, Donald Trump said that if the US had not “decimated” Iran’s nuclear programme, the country could have acquired nuclear weapons within a month and used them first against Israel and then against the rest of the Middle East.
“It would lead to a nuclear war that would turn into World War III and, more importantly, a war that would leave nothing behind,” he said, adding that “we have done something great for the world.”
The US president reiterated that “Iran should not have a nuclear weapon”, noting that the military operation was aimed at preventing that possibility.
He defended his decision to take military action, telling reporters that “if you believe Iran should not have nuclear weapons, then you must love what I did.”
Trump also said he could end the war with Iran as early as this week, but he does not think it likely that he will do so immediately.
“I could,” he replied when asked if he could end the conflict in the next few days. But when pressed if he planned to do so, he said: “I don’t think so.”
At another point in his remarks, he said that several countries that are energy-dependent on transit through the Strait of Hormuz, such as Japan, South Korea and China, should – he said – thank the US and contribute to efforts to secure the region.
At the same time, he took swipes at British Prime Minister Kir Starmers, saying he had informed London that the US did not need the British aircraft carriers offered to support the operations.
Finally, Trump hinted that the United States could also move militarily against Cuba.
Asked if he could launch an attack against the country, he said he “could do whatever he wants” and added: “I think I would have the honour of … taking over Cuba. Either liberate it or occupy it.”
