'Idea that Trump can be led around by Israel is foolishness,' ex-envoy to Iran says
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Former Trump envoy Elliott Abrams rejected claims that Israel influences U.S. policy toward Iran, supporting the ongoing war.
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Elliott Abrams, a former special envoy to Iran under Trump's first term, defended the ongoing war with Tehran in a FRANCE 24 interview, calling it "foolishness" to suggest Israel manipulated Trump into the conflict. Abrams argued that Trump is the first of five consecutive presidents to actually enforce a policy of preventing Iranian nuclear weapons development, implying the war represents a meaningful shift in US strategy rather than Israeli influence. His comments push back against critics who frame the conflict as driven by Israeli interests rather than Trump administration priorities. Abrams' endorsement carries weight as an insider who shaped Trump's Iran policy during the first administration and remains influential in Republican foreign policy circles. The statement reflects ongoing debate over whether the US military engagement with Iran represents Trump's strategic choice or reflects pressure from Israel.
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