Trump claims that following Iran’s attack, several Arab countries are looking to join the fight
Trump referred to Iran’s move to attack Gulf nations as “perhaps the most unexpected development” of the campaign up to this point.
Arab countries that were initially hesitant to join the US-backed military campaign against Iran are now attempting to play an active role, citing Iran’s actions as “surprise.”
This is according to United States President Donald Trump, who told CNN on Monday that several Arab countries had changed their stance after being criticized by Tehran.
Trump told CNN, “We were surprised. We told them, ‘We’ll do it,’ and now they want to fight. And they’re fighting vigorously. They were going to be very little involved, and now they’re insisting on getting involved.”
The joint US and Israeli strike on Iran over the weekend prompted a massive response from Tehran. Iran launched missiles and armed drones toward Tel Aviv and US military bases across the Middle East.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of those attacks.
In the days that followed, Iran attacked Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump called Iran’s decision to attack those countries “probably the biggest surprise” of the campaign so far.
He said, “They (Iran) shot at a hotel; they shot at an apartment house. “It just pissed them off. They (Arab countries) love us, but they were watching. There was no reason for them to get involved.”
He said, “We’re beating them hard, but the big wave is yet to come.” “I think it’s going very well. It’s very powerful. We have the largest military in the world, and we’re using it.”
Trump says America’s biggest attack is yet to come
In his first public remarks at the White House since the campaign against Iran began, he said the US is already “well ahead” of its original timeline, noting that initial estimates had projected the campaign to take four to five weeks.
He said the US has the capability to “continue for a very long time” if necessary.
Seven countries issue joint statement condemning Iran
On Monday, the US, along with six Arab countries, issued a strongly worded joint statement condemning Iran’s missile and drone campaign across the region, calling it reckless and wrong.
The statement, signed by the US, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, described Iran’s attacks as “indiscriminate” attacks on free nations that endangered civilian lives.
“These inaccurate attacks targeted government territory, endangered civilians, and damaged civilian infrastructure,” the statement said.
The seven countries described Iran’s behavior as “a dangerous escalation that violates the sovereignty of several countries and threatens regional stability” and said targeting civilians and countries not involved in the fighting “constitutes reckless and destabilizing behavior.”
The statement added, “We stand united in defending our citizens, sovereignty, and territory.”
