Washington: US President Donald Trump has attributed responsibility for initiating the ongoing conflict with Iran to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, as the war enters its fourth week amid growing divisions within the Trump administration.
Speaking during a roundtable discussion in Tennessee, attended by Hegseth, Trump suggested that the defence secretary was the first to advocate military action, framing the decision as a necessary step to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to address what he described as a major challenge in the Middle East.
However, conflicting accounts from within the administration have raised questions about the rationale behind the war. While some officials maintain that Iran posed an imminent nuclear threat, others argue that the United States acted in anticipation of a potential Israeli strike, necessitating American involvement.
Further complicating the administration’s position are revelations surrounding Iran’s relations. Trump has described Tehran’s retaliation as unexpected, yet reports indicating that he had prior warning of a possible Iranian attack have cast doubt on that claim.
Signs of internal discord have also emerged, with Vice President J D Vance reportedly showing limited engagement with the administration’s war strategy. In addition, former counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigned last week in protest against the military action.