Former President Barack Obama said the United States is in a worse position today because of the war with Iran than it was before the conflict began.
“We’ve now fought a war, spent billions and billions of dollars, you know, put enormous strain on our military. A lot of people have died. And it feels like we’re back where we were before we started the war, except maybe a little bit worse off,” Obama said during an interview with TODAY co-host Craig Melvin on Friday.
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After Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Lebanon, an alleged ceasefire was agreed to between Israel and Hezbollah.
“I am very happy to see a ceasefire, and I’m hopeful that it holds. But in terms of what was the original rationale for this war, there was a deal in place, in which Iran agreed to not develop nuclear weapons,” Obama said, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which was negotiated under his administration in 2015.
However, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continued Saturday, putting the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding in jeopardy. The memorandum said 60 days would be allotted to negotiate an agreement.
President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term in 2018. It contained steps to restrict Iran from obtaining or developing a nuclear weapon.
“This administration, or a prior version of this administration, pulled out of it [the deal], which caused then, Iran, to develop more nuclear capacity,” Obama said.
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Trump posted Saturday on Truth Social about Iran, saying, “Funny how the Dumocrats like to say that Iran is in a stronger position today than they were three months ago, despite the fact that they have been defeated militarily, with no Navy or Air Force. That’s why I call them the Dumocrats!!!”
Trump has faced criticism over his involvement in Iran. Critics argue it could become a problem for Republicans come the midterm elections in November.
