Ali Larijani: Trump's Shift from 'America First' to 'Israel First'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 2 (NationPress) Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has stated that US President Donald Trump has forsaken the 'America first' policy in favor of an 'Israel first' approach. This statement arrives amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
On his social media platform 'X', Larijani remarked, "Trump has betrayed 'America first' to adopt 'Israel first'." He further posted, "Trump's misguided aspirations have plunged the entire region into an unwarranted conflict, and it is distressing that he is endangering American lives and resources to further Netanyahu's unlawful expansionist goals."
Earlier, Larijani rejected claims that Tehran is interested in engaging in dialogue with the United States as tensions in the region continue to mount. He emphasized on X, "We will not negotiate with the United States." This response follows a report from The Wall Street Journal suggesting that Larijani was seeking to restore diplomatic relations with the US through Omani intermediaries.
In a related development, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned US airstrikes that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, labeling them as illegal aggression and promising a resolute response from Tehran.
During an interview with ABC News, Araghchi firmly dismissed Washington's rationale, stating, "What the United States is doing is an act of aggression. Our actions are purely defensive."
On February 28, US and Israeli forces executed joint airstrikes on Iran while nuclear negotiations were underway, resulting in Khamenei's death. In retaliation, Iran launched missile strikes targeting US military installations across the Middle East.
The US, along with six Gulf nations, condemned what they termed as "indiscriminate and reckless" missile and drone assaults by Iran, characterizing them as a "dangerous escalation" that jeopardizes regional stability.
A joint statement from the US State Department, along with Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE condemned Iran's attacks on multiple sovereign nations.
US President Donald Trump characterized the extensive military response against Iran as "one of the largest, most complex, most overwhelming military operations the world has ever witnessed," confirming Khamenei's death and vowing to continue military efforts "until all objectives are achieved."