US struck Iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons, says Trump

US President Donald Trump defended the American military action against Iran, saying Washington had acted to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, while describing the rise in oil prices amid the ongoing conflict as a "very small price to pay" for national and global security.

Speaking at a rally in Iowa on Sunday, ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons was the reason behind the US military intervention.
"I stopped Iran from having a nuclear weapon," Trump said.

Trump also claimed that Iran had initiated the war and asserted that US military operations had significantly weakened its military capabilities.

"They started this war. We didn't start it. We're finishing it. We're beating the crap out of them. They have no navy. They had 159 ships. They had 268 aeroplanes. Their aeroplanes are scattered all over the runways of Iran," he said.

"They have no radar. They have no anti-aircraft weaponry. They have no leaders. That's my problem. We might have gone a little far with the leaders. There's nobody to talk to. I'm trying to find somebody to talk to," Trump added.

Trump's remarks come amid renewed discussions between Washington and Tel Aviv over the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran following the US midterm elections.

According to a report by Axios, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Trump to launch fresh military strikes against Iran immediately after Tuesday's midterm elections, amid concerns in Israel over Washington's continued pursuit of a diplomatic solution with Tehran.

Trump and Netanyahu held a telephone conversation on Saturday to discuss the progress of US negotiations with Iran and the possibility of resuming military operations. An Israeli source described the conversation as "tough", while a US source characterised it as "direct", Axios reported.

The report said Trump is pursuing parallel diplomatic and military strategies, seeking an agreement to restart peace talks while keeping preparations underway for a possible resumption of major combat operations after the elections.

According to NBC News, Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate and three seats to secure a majority in the House of Representatives.

The NBC News polling average puts Trump's approval rating at 38%, while 60% disapprove of his performance. On congressional control, 52% of Americans favour a Democrat-controlled Congress, compared with 44% who prefer Republican control.

The elections are also unfolding amid concerns over the cost of living and the economic impact of the conflict, including rising oil prices, an issue Trump addressed during his Iowa rally. - ANI