US President Donald Trump has defended his military strikes against Iran, stating that Israel and the wider Middle East would not exist if he had not prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Speaking on Friday, Trump described halting the Iranian nuclear programme as his central justification for launching the attacks against the Islamic Republic, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.
The defence of the war comes immediately after significant Republican losses in the US midterm elections held on Tuesday. Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that the ongoing conflict in Iran was the reason the Republican Party was defeated at the polls.
Writing on the social media platform X, Vance lamented internal party findings showing that the election defeat was not caused by low voter turnout. Instead, Republican Party data indicated that many people who voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election chose to vote for Democratic candidates this time.
Diplomatic contact with Qatar
Trump also moved on Friday to address diplomatic negotiations surrounding the fighting. The president telephoned Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to review ongoing efforts aimed at preventing further escalation across the wider Middle East region.
Qatar has played an active role as an international mediator in the war in Iran. The Arabian Peninsula nation has long acted as a diplomatic intermediary, hosting talks and facilitating communications between adversaries during international crises.
The announcement of the telephone call between Trump and the Qatari leader brought a rapid response on international energy markets. Brent crude oil for January delivery fell by 0.71 percent in early morning trading, dropping to 97 dollars a barrel.
The morning decline came after Brent crude prices had climbed above 100 dollars a barrel during overnight trading. Brent crude is extracted from the North Sea and serves as the primary international pricing benchmark for crude oil purchases worldwide.
