U.S. President Donald Trump has refused to rule out getting involved in the Israel-Iran conflict.
Following an Israeli strike last Friday, the two countries have exchanged missile fire.
The U.S, an ally of Israel, has increased pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear program since Trump returned to office.
When asked if the U.S. would directly attack Iran, Trump said: “I may do it, I may not do it.”
The remarks have raised questions about whether a U.S. strike would trigger a world war.
Background
On Friday, Israel launched a wave of strikes on nuclear and military targets in Iran, including residences of military officials in Tehran apartment buildings.
Israel cited Iran’s recent progression towards developing a nuclear bomb for launching a series of strikes. Its first wave of attacks struck a nuclear facility. Iran responded with missile attacks on Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv.
More than 220 people have now been killed in Iran, including civilians and military officials. Authorities have confirmed 24 civilians have been killed in Israel.
Nuclear
Iran’s nuclear program has long caused tensions in the Middle East and with the U.S.
In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear treaty agreeing to keep its nuclear developments “exclusively peaceful” in exchange for an incremental reduction in sanctions from countries like the U.S.
Trump withdrew from the deal during his first term, arguing it failed to stop Iran’s military build-up.
Trump
Since returning to the White House in January, the Trump administration has held numerous meetings with Iran over its nuclear program.
Trump’s Middle East adviser Steve Witkoff had intended to meet with Iranian officials in Oman on Sunday for a sixth round of talks on the future of nuclear in the country.
The meeting was cancelled after Israel’s first round of strikes.
Trump then left the G7 summit early, saying he had something to do that was “much bigger” than a ceasefire.
The U.S. President has since called for the “unconditional surrender” of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claiming to know where he is “hiding”.
He has also called for the evacuation of Tehran, home to nearly 10 million people, where most of Israel’s strikes have been concentrated.
On Wednesday (local time), in response to a journalist’s question about whether the U.S. would strike Iran, Trump said “I may do it, I may not do it”, hinting it could occur in the coming week.
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Speculation
Trump’s refusal to rule out an attack on Iran has triggered speculation the U.S. could try to strike an underground nuclear facility near Tehran.
The U.S. has developed ‘bunker buster’ bombs, which can penetrate deep into the earth before detonating.
It also has fighter jets big enough to carry these bombs.
Overnight, Khamenei posted on social media: “The harm the US will suffer will definitely be irreparable if they enter this conflict militarily.”
In favour
Trump has faced pressure to directly intervene in the Middle East from some Republicans and Democrats.
Some U.S. media outlets report that a number of Republicans who have long advocated for tougher action against Iran, including Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, have pushed for direct attacks.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the country’s top diplomat, is also a long-term critic of Iran.
Against
A mix of Republicans and Democrats have raised concerns about U.S. involvement in the Middle East, exposing rifts in Trump’s party.
Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie posted on social media: “This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters”.
Democrats who have voiced concerns include Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential pick in 2016. Kaine said the move could drag the U.S. into “another endless conflict”.
Former Fox News commentator and Trump supporter Tucker Carlson has opposed intervention in Iran, breaking away from Trump’s rhetoric.
In a two-hour long interview, he questioned Republican Senator Ted Cruz about his pro-intervention position, including if knew the size of Iran’s population. At one point, Carlson said: “You don’t know anything about Iran!”
Trump’s National Security Director Tulsi Gabbard has also come under fire for suggesting that Iran had not been developing nuclear weapons, according to CIA intelligence.
Trump responded by saying “I don’t care what she said”.
World War III?
Google searches for World War III have spiked since the Israel and Iran strikes began.
There is no set definition of a world war, but historians generally accept it is an intense conflict that draws in multiple countries. The United Nations’ central purpose was to create a forum to avoid future global conflicts in the wake of World War II.
After 9/11, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. While the conflict escalated and brought in multiple countries (including Australia), it was generally not considered a world war.
