Trump warns Israel ‘will be gone’ if Iran obtains nuclear weapons

Former US President Donald Trump has reiterated his stance against Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. “I am not looking to be enemies with Iran… but they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told Fox News yesterday. “If they do, Israel is gone. It will be gone.”

Speaking on “Life, Liberty & Levin” with host and media ally Mark Levin, Trump also spoke about “the rise in anti-Semitism and US foreign policy.”

The current Republican presidential nominee criticised the administration of Democratic US President Joe Biden for its perceived leniency towards Tehran, arguing that this has allowed the Islamic Republic to circumvent US sanctions, enabling it to increase its financial capability to support resistance movements like Hamas.

He also defended his 2018 decision to withdraw unilaterally from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal. He argued that it was a “bad deal” that failed to address Iran’s missile programme and destabilising activities in the Middle East.

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Trump’s comments come as Iran is reportedly considering revising its nuclear policy after Israel’s attack on its consulate in Damascus in April, prompting an Iranian response. This also comes against heightened tensions in the region, with the Axis of Resistance —including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi forces in Yemen — stepping up operations against Israeli and allied targets.

“We have no decision to build a nuclear bomb but should Iran’s existence be threatened, there will be no choice but to change our military doctrine,” said Kamal Kharrazi, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in May.

A month later, it was reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had re-established a series of working groups tasked with dealing with Iran’s nuclear programme. Tel Aviv is concerned that Iran will look to “shorten the timetable” if Khamenei orders a push towards a nuclear bomb, despite previous Islamic legal opinions, fatwas, prohibiting their development, stockpiling and usage.

Iran in turn is closely monitoring the US presidential race, and is particularly concerned about a potential Trump return considering his controversial 2020 order to assassinate Qasem Soleimani, the influential commander of the Islamic Republican Guard Corps’ Quds Force, in January 2020.

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