Trump says US strike stopped Iran attack, 'If we didn’t attack them, they’d attack us'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said the United States launched a preemptive strike against Iran because he believed Tehran was preparing to attack American targets.

Speaking in an interview with professional boxer and influencer Jake Paul posted to YouTube on Friday, March 13, Trump said US forces acted first to neutralize what he described as a large missile threat.

The remarks come as the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to escalate, raising concerns about regional stability and global energy markets.

Trump has defended the military operation as necessary to prevent a larger attack. During the interview and in subsequent comments to reporters, the president also addressed questions about a controversial strike that hit an elementary school in southern Iran.

Trump says US strike prevented Iranian attack

In the interview, Trump said the United States decided to strike Iran because intelligence suggested Tehran was preparing to attack American targets. 

"With Iran, we knew we had to do something because they were going to be attacking us," he said. "If we didn't attack them, they were going to attack us. And we did it first."

Trump said acting early allowed US forces to destroy a significant number of Iranian weapons systems before they could be used. 

"And by going first, we wiped out thousands of missiles that would have been shot," he said. "And you know, you can shoot them down, but you need a lot of, a lot of very expensive weaponry to shoot them down. We wiped out thousands and thousands of missiles by going early, and it made a big difference."

The president also described the operation as necessary to confront what he characterized as long-standing threats from Iran.

"We did this excursion. We had to do it, wipe out evil... they've been killing people most violently. The roadside bombs all over the place, 95% of them are from Iran... people have waited for 47 years for it to happen, so we have to do it right," Trump said.

Trump also said his assessment was based on information provided by senior officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. "I thought if we didn't do this at the time we did it, I think they had in mind to attack us," Trump said.

Trump questions reports on school strike 

As the conflict entered its second week and oil prices surged, Trump also addressed questions about a strike that hit an elementary school in Minab, Iran, killing dozens of children.

When asked whether the United States would accept responsibility for the strike, Trump suggested the attack may have been carried out by Iran or another actor.

"It’s something that I was told is under investigation, but Tomahawks are used by others," Trump said. "As you know, numerous other nations have Tomahawks. They buy them from us."

Pressed by reporters on why he suggested Iran might be responsible, the president replied: "Because I just don’t know enough about it."

The president also warned Iran against disrupting global oil markets, saying the United States would respond forcefully if Tehran attempted to block energy supplies.

"We will hit them so hard that it will not be possible for them, or anybody else helping them, to ever recover that section of the world if they do anything," Trump said.