Washington: Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump stated on Friday that he believes Israel should strike Iran’s nuclear sites in response to recent missile attacks by the Islamic Republic. Speaking at a campaign event in Fayetteville, North Carolina—near a major U.S. military base—Trump referred to a question posed to Democratic President Joe Biden earlier this week about Israel potentially targeting Iran’s nuclear program.
“They asked him, what do you think about Iran, would you hit Iran? And he goes, ‘As long as they don’t hit the nuclear stuff.’ That’s the thing you want to hit, right?” Trump remarked during the town hall-style event.
Earlier, President Biden was asked whether he would support strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, to which he responded, “The answer is no.” Criticizing this stance, Trump said, “I think he’s got that one wrong. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to hit? I mean, it’s the biggest risk we have—nuclear weapons.”
He added, “When they asked him that question, the answer should have been, hit the nuclear first, and worry about the rest later. If they’re going to do it, they’re going to do it. But we’ll find out whatever their plans are.”
Biden expressed his opposition to such strikes on Wednesday, following the firing of nearly 200 Iranian missiles toward Israel. “We’ll be discussing with the Israelis what they’re going to do,” he said, emphasizing that all G7 members agree Israel has “a right to respond, but they should respond in proportion.”
Trump, currently engaged in a heated presidential race with Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, has largely refrained from commenting on the escalating tensions in the Middle East. However, he issued a sharp statement this week, holding Biden and Harris responsible for the ongoing crisis.
