Trump on Iran: Pre-emptive Strikes Averted First Attack

President Donald Trump defended recent military action against Iran, saying ongoing negotiations were not progressing and Tehran was likely to strike first if action was not taken. Trump made the remarks during a press event with Friedrich Merz, asserting that he believed Iran was preparing an attack that warranted a pre-emptive response. He also suggested that his assessment may have influenced Israel Defense Forces to act. Critics note the administration’s justification for the strikes centers on averting an imminent threat, though details on the specific intelligence have not been publicly released.