Trump insists Israel did not force US hand on Iran attack as he meets German chancellor

March 3, 2026

TL;DR

President Trump stated that the US struck Iran first to prevent an Iranian attack, suggesting he may have prompted Israel's actions.
Trump criticized Spain for denying US use of military bases and the UK for not aiding in the conflict, threatening trade with Spain.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's earlier remarks about Israel's planned strike are being re-examined after Trump's statements.
The US military has hit over 1,700 targets in Iran, including missile sites and naval vessels.
The Pentagon clarified that the strike killing Iran's supreme leader was an Israeli operation, not part of the US campaign.
The US Navy will escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, and the US Development Finance Corporation will provide insurance for maritime trade in the Gulf region.
US lawmakers are criticizing the State Department for not organizing evacuation flights for Americans stranded in the Middle East.
Howard Lutnick, Trump's commerce secretary, agreed to appear before a House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein's network.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, stood by her statements labeling two US citizens killed by immigration officers as 'domestic terrorists'.

Continue reading the original article