Washington: Former US Secretary of State John Kerry revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly pushed US presidents to conduct military strikes on Iran, but only former President Donald Trump consented to the plan. Kerry made these remarks during an interview on The Briefing with Jen Psaki, where he recounted his experiences in discussions with Netanyahu, stating, “He wanted us to strike.”

According to Anadolu Agency, Kerry mentioned that Netanyahu directly approached former President Barack Obama with the proposal, but Obama, along with Presidents Joe Biden and George W. Bush, refused. Kerry noted, “The only president who has agreed to this, obviously, is President Trump.” He detailed how Netanyahu presented a comprehensive case for military action, describing it as “a four-point pitch” that included claims of potential outcomes such as “killing the leadership,” “inciting a change of regime,” and “destroying the military.”

Kerry affirmed the credibility of recent reports on these discussions, noting that they “seemed like good reporting.” He also highlighted that Netanyahu presented his arguments in meetings with senior officials, where various perspectives were considered.

The US and Israel launched an offensive against Iran on February 28, resulting in the death of then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior political and military figures. In retaliation, Tehran conducted drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and several countries hosting US military assets, leading to heightened tensions in the region.

Pakistan, along with Trkiye, China, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, played a crucial role in brokering a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, 40 days after the conflict began. As part of the agreement, both parties are set to meet in Islamabad for negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace.