Ankara (HRNW)- US President Donald Trump made a series of remarks on Iran, NATO, and US foreign policy, saying the recent US military action against Iran was a response to Iranian attacks and reiterating that the United States would not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, President Trump said he believes the memorandum of understanding with Iran is no longer effective, adding that Iran had wasted considerable time during negotiations and that Washington no longer wishes to continue talks under the previous framework.
Trump said the United States carried out military operations against Iran because it considered them necessary in response to Iranian attacks. He stated that the US would continue taking all necessary measures to protect its national interests and allies.
The US President also claimed that Iran’s previous military leadership had been eliminated and replaced by new leadership. However, he did not provide evidence to support this claim, and it has not been independently verified.
Reiterating Washington’s position on Iran’s nuclear program, Trump said the United States remains firmly opposed to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
Commenting on NATO, Trump said he was not fully satisfied with the alliance’s current performance, arguing that member states had not provided the level of support to the United States that he expected regarding Iran.
He added that the United States contributes the largest share of NATO’s funding and called on allied countries to shoulder greater responsibility. Trump also remarked that, in his view, NATO needs the United States more than the United States needs NATO, while noting that he had held a constructive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss regional and global issues.
Responding to a question about Spain, Trump said he was not interested in discussing relations with the country but did not elaborate further.
The US President also sharply criticized Iran, accusing it of creating instability for decades and using strong language regarding the Iranian leadership.
Political analysts say Trump’s latest remarks indicate that Washington intends to maintain a firm policy toward Iran, while differences remain among NATO members over the alliance’s approach to the ongoing regional tensions.
Support independent journalism and human rights reporting by making a donation: www.hrnww.com/?page_id=1083
