Trump Claims US Attack on Iran Prevented Nuclear Bomb

Former president says strike was necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapon

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Former US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that a recent US attack on Iran was aimed at preventing the country from developing a nuclear weapon. Trump stated that if the US had not carried out the attack within two weeks, Iran would have had a nuclear weapon.

Why it matters

This statement from the former president provides insight into the motivations behind the US military action against Iran, which has heightened tensions in the region. The potential development of nuclear weapons by Iran is a major geopolitical concern, and Trump's comments suggest the US was willing to take preemptive action to stop it.

The details

Trump did not provide additional details about the specific attack he was referring to or the intelligence that led the US to believe Iran was close to obtaining a nuclear weapon. The former president's claims come amid ongoing negotiations between Iran and world powers over Tehran's nuclear program.

  • On March 5, 2026, Trump made the comments about the US attack on Iran.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who made the comments about the US attack on Iran.

Iran

The country that Trump claims was close to developing a nuclear weapon, prompting the US military action.

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What they’re saying

“If we didn't hit within two weeks, they would have had a nuclear weapon.”

— Donald Trump, Former US President (Bernama-Anadolu)

The takeaway

Trump's comments highlight the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran over the latter's nuclear program, and suggest the former administration was willing to take aggressive action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, even without providing full details on the intelligence or rationale behind such strikes.