John Bolton, former national security adviser, urged the United States to support Israel if it decides to target Iran’s nuclear program following Tehran’s recent failed missile and drone strikes. Speaking on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” Bolton criticized Iran’s unsuccessful attack, suggesting that Israel’s successful interception makes Iran appear weak.
“Today, Iran looks like fools. They launched hundreds of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, but most of them were intercepted. So, who looks weak now? The regime in Iran,” Bolton stated during the interview.
He proposed that Israel should consider going after Iran’s nuclear weapons program, emphasizing that such action would be in America’s interest as well. Bolton argued that Iran poses a serious threat as a nuclear proliferator, comparable to North Korea.
While Israel’s retaliation plans remain unclear, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby indicated that the decision would be left to the Israelis. Bolton stressed that if Israel chooses to target Iran’s nuclear program, the United States should stand by them.
Iran’s IRGC launched the missiles and drones toward Israel following an alleged Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria, resulting in the death of two senior IRGC officers. However, Israel, with the assistance of its allies, including the U.S., successfully intercepted most of the incoming threats.
President Biden condemned the attacks and expressed strong support for Israel during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the incident.