Trump contradicts top adviser and says ‘lifelong opinion’ on Iran influenced the war, not Israel

WorldPolitics
20 Apr 2026 • 11:05 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Trump contradicts top adviser and says ‘lifelong opinion’ on Iran influenced the war, not Israel

  • President Donald Trump denied that Israel influenced his decision to launch the war against Iran nearly two months ago.
  • Trump stated his decision was based on the “results of Oct. 7th” and his long-held belief that Iran should never possess nuclear weapons.
  • This denial contradicts earlier statements from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser.
  • Rubio previously indicated that Trump was compelled to act preemptively due to an imminent Israeli attack and the likelihood of Iranian retaliation against US personnel.
  • The ongoing conflict has significantly impacted global markets and led to soaring energy prices, exacerbated by an Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

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