US President Donald Trump has claimed that Israel and the wider Middle East would not exist today if he had not prevented Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, as his administration considers whether to resume military operations against Tehran.
In a post on Truth Social on Friday, November 6, Trump credited his actions against Iran with averting what he described as an existential threat to the region.
“Israel and, in fact, the entire Middle East, WOULD NOT EXIST TODAY if I did not stop Iran from having a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump wrote. “Nobody wants to say that, but everybody knows it’s true!”
His remarks came as Washington reviewed a new Iranian proposal on its nuclear programme and weighed the possibility of further military action. The conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, followed by Iranian strikes on Israel and Gulf countries hosting American military bases.
Trump weighs renewed strikes as Iran sets conditions for talks
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said the United States would decide whether to restart military operations against Iran.
“I’d rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I will have to,” he said.
According to Reuters, senior Iranian officials said Tehran had sent a fresh nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar. The US was reviewing the offer, while Iran said further negotiations would depend on Washington meeting seven demands.
These include lifting US sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, paying compensation for war damage, ending the US naval blockade and reducing America’s military presence in the region.
Washington, however, has maintained that Iran’s nuclear programme must be included in any initial negotiations. Iran’s top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, said Tehran would not negotiate or reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions were met.
Hegseth defends Operation Epic Fury
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also defended the military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, on Thursday, describing it as a “courageous and historic effort”. He said the administration would continue working to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
In a video posted on X, Hegseth also urged Congress to approve a reconciliation bill providing at least $350 billion for the military and the defence industrial base.
Trump’s latest comments came days after he announced that the US would stop providing around $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by the end of 2026. He had argued that Israel no longer needed the financial support.
However, Reuters reported that the existing US-Israel agreement provides $3.8 billion annually through September 2028. The details of any early change to the arrangement remain unclear.
