Trump Defends Iran Campaign Amid Nuclear Strike Concerns

President Donald Trump has defended the U.S. campaign against Iran by saying it prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while describing the conflict as “small potatoes.” Lawmakers and critics condemned that characterization, citing reports that 18 U.S. service members have been killed and more than 750 wounded since the fighting began. Following U.S. and Iranian strikes near the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. bases in Jordan, Trump reportedly threatened to intensify attacks and potentially “wipe out” Iran if it retaliated. Trump has also warned that Israel and potentially the wider Middle East could face destruction if he were not president. Analysts and critics say his rhetoric, along with reported Pentagon discussions of “credible, rational nuclear options,” raises concerns that nuclear weapons may be under consideration, though claims of a possible first strike remain disputed. Psychiatrist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Henry Abraham warned that alleged impulsiveness and limited public information about presidential health could increase the risk of an unauthorized or poorly considered nuclear strike.