Trump Says US ‘Shouldn’t Have Been in Iran’, Claims Strikes Prevented Nuclear Weapon

US President Donald Trump has said Washington is seeking an agreement with Iran but remains prepared to take military action if negotiations fail. Speaking to Fox News, Trump reflected on past American interventions in the Middle East, discussed Iran's nuclear ambitions, and suggested that recent US actions had significantly altered the regional balance of power.

Trump Revisits Iraq War, Questions Past US Involvement

During the interview, Trump drew comparisons between the current Iran situation and the US invasion of Iraq, describing the Iraq war as a major mistake. He argued that American involvement in the region had often produced costly consequences and should have been approached differently.

"You look at what happened with Iraq. We did so bad. It was such a foolish thing what we did. We shouldn't have been there in the first place, by the way," Trump said.

He then extended his remarks to Iran, saying the United States also should not have found itself confronting Tehran, while maintaining that the country posed a significant threat because of its nuclear capabilities.

"We shouldn't have been in Iran, but Iran has the capability," he continued. "If we didn't hit them with B-2 bombers, nine months ago, they would have a nuclear weapon right now and will be a whole different story. You probably wouldn't have had Israel, but you probably wouldn't have had a Middle East, and then where do they go from there?"

Claims US Action Prevented Nuclear Breakthrough

Trump argued that US military strikes had halted Iran's progress towards acquiring a nuclear weapon. According to him, the intervention prevented a scenario that could have dramatically changed the security landscape of the Middle East.

He suggested that without the strikes, Tehran would have been much closer to becoming a nuclear-armed state, creating consequences not only for Israel but for the wider region.

The president portrayed the operation as a decisive move that averted a much larger crisis, insisting that the situation today would be far more dangerous had Washington not acted.

Iranian Military Largely Spared, Says Trump

Discussing US military strategy, Trump claimed that American forces intentionally avoided targeting large sections of Iran's military establishment. He argued that Washington viewed elements of the Iranian armed forces as comparatively moderate.

"Their military, we sort of left it alone because we think that their military is somewhat moderate. They have other people that aren't moderate. We've taken them. We've taken different forms of leadership out. We've actually left their military alone," he said.

His comments suggested that US operations were focused more on specific leadership figures and groups rather than the broader military structure.

No Rush for Agreement but Deal Remains Preferred Option

Despite his tough rhetoric, Trump indicated that his administration would rather secure a diplomatic settlement than return to military action. He expressed confidence that a favourable agreement could eventually be reached with Tehran.

According to Trump, the United States is going to make a "great deal" with Iran and, if negotiations fail, "we'll just go back and finish it off militarily".

He stressed that a negotiated settlement would help avoid further bloodshed, saying it would "save a lot of lives" and "we can open the strait of Hormuz immediately upon signing".

Trump also described Iranian leaders as "very tough negotiators" but maintained that Washington was steadily achieving its objectives. While acknowledging that progress was gradual, he suggested the United States was continuing to move closer to securing the outcome it seeks from the talks.