Trump: Nuclear Iran Would Erase Israel, Middle East

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a Fox News interview that Iran would have used a nuclear weapon if it had acquired one, leading to the "disappearance" of Israel and the "more or less" vanishing of the Middle East. He suggested the United States and Europe would likely follow. Trump asserted that his administration would not permit Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, describing Iranian officials as "very violent and bad people."

He credited his administration's sanctions and financial pressure for crippling Iran, calling it a "failed state." Trump claimed Iran's military capabilities have been severely damaged, citing the destruction of its navy, air force, commanders, and air defense systems. He also expressed surprise at Iran's attacks on Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait early in the confrontation, viewing them as beneficial because they caused Iran to lose regional support.

This comes amid the collapse of two U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreements in April and June aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran does not seek war but will respond decisively to any aggression, warning that regional instability poses challenges for all nations.