- Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iranian strikes in the Gulf have increased Tehran‘s diplomatic isolation.
- These statements come as military tensions escalated on Sunday with reciprocal US strikes in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Republican candidate also argued that his presidency had prevented the destruction of Israel in the face of the Iranian nuclear threat.
Heightened military tensions in the Gulf
During a television interview on Sunday evening, former President Donald Trump spoke about the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. According to the Republican candidate, military operations carried out by Iran against several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, have proved counterproductive for Tehran. Donald Trump believes that these armed actions have shocked the international community and have had the effect of depriving Iran of its regional support. This media appearance comes amid a climate of high military volatility. Indeed, on Sunday, United States armed forces bombed Iranian infrastructure located in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering retaliatory fire from Tehran against US bases in response.
Regional security at the heart of the election debate
Beyond his assessment of Tehran’s isolation, the former head of state used the platform to defend his diplomatic record and his vision of collective security. He reaffirmed his belief that an Iran equipped with nuclear technology would pose a mortal danger to the Jewish state and the entire Arabian Peninsula, but also potentially to the European continent and US territory. The former president claimed a protective role, asserting that the very existence of Israel would have been compromised without his past actions in the White House. With the US election campaign in full swing, these statements illustrate the Republican camp’s desire to place the Middle East crisis at the centre of foreign policy debates, whilst maintaining a line of absolute firmness towards the Islamic Republic.
