Trump Moves Against Iran After Warning Ignored
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said Sunday that President Donald Trump is carrying out warnings he previously delivered to Iran and that Tehran should not be surprised by the U.S. response.
In a statement regarding the recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, Friedman— who served in the first Trump administration—stated the president made clear escalation would bring consequences.
“He warned Iran. He warned them this was going to happen. They didn’t believe him,” Friedman said.
When asked whether he was surprised by Trump’s decision to act, Friedman replied, “Not the slightest.”
Friedman added that Iran is miscalculating, possibly because its leadership has been weakened by joint Israeli and U.S. actions.
“Between Israel and the United States, they’ve decapitated the leadership, and this is the only direction that they know how to follow,” he said. “But I think they’re getting [Trump] angry.”
He pointed to the deaths of three U.S. service members and civilian casualties in Israel, including in Beit Shemesh.
“They’re doing exactly what I think Trump warned them not to do, which is to escalate,” Friedman stated.
Friedman emphasized that President Trump does not intend to engage in a prolonged conflict.
“Make no mistake, President Trump is not in this for a long back-and-forth, trading volleys. He’s going to end this,” Friedman said. “If they’re going to escalate, he’ll escalate four or five or 10 times as hard to make it clear to them that they have no path to victory. … He’s going to end this war one way or another. This is not going to be a long war.”
Friedman rejected the idea that the president acted impulsively, noting indirect talks in recent years between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials.
“He didn’t want to start a war. He was doing everything he could to offer them a path to a diplomatic solution; just give up your weapons,” Friedman explained. “They said no. And they left him with no choice.”
When asked whether the administration’s actions are meant to protect Israel, stop a nuclear weapon, or both, Friedman responded, “Certainly both. And I think more the latter.”
“Iran has sleeper cells all over the world. They have fomented terror groups all over the world,” he added. “This Iranian regime has got to be brought down.”
Friedman also noted that Trump is acting with future generations in mind and believes removing the regime would strengthen Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Abraham Accords.
“There’s just a wealth of good that comes out of removing this terrorist regime,” he said.
