International Bolton says US strikes on Iran ‘justifiable and necessary’ by Sarah Davis - 02/28/26 12:09 PM ET by Sarah Davis - 02/28/26 12:09 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Former national security adviser John Bolton defended the Trump administration’s decision to launch preemptive strikes on Iran over its continued nuclear program. “Trump has every right to eliminate threats from the ayatollahs, the IRGC, and Iran’s nuclear-weapons program,” Bolton wrote Saturday in a post on social platform X. “This mission is completely justifiable and necessary,” he continued. “The regime must fall, and the opposition needs the support of the West.” In an earlier post , the former Trump official called the operation “the most consequential decision of Donald Trump’s presidency.” Bolton previously urged the Trump administration to pursue regime change in the Middle Eastern nation. “I think he should have done that a long time ago and indeed I think the U.S. has watched Iran sustain its regime, oppress its people, engage in supporting the world’s worst terrorists, and actively pursue a nuclear weapons program for a long, long time, and we’ve let it happen, and Israel and others have paid the consequences for it,” Bolton said during an appearance on NewsNation’s “ On Balance ” earlier this month. Trump, in a Truth Social video announcing the strikes, said his administration aims to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” “Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take; this will be probably your only chance for generations,” he said in the video, which was posted at 2:30 a.m. EST. “America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny.” The president has consistently threatened “ unfortunate ” consequences for Iran if their regime refused to agree to a new nuclear deal with the U.S.  Republicans in Congress have lauded the president’s decision to militarily intervene in the country, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also backing Trump’s calls for regime change.  “His speech will go down in history as the catalyst for the most historic change in the Middle East in a thousand years. I echo President Trump’s call to the Iranian military, IRGC and security forces to lay down their arms,” he wrote on X . “I echo his call to the Iranian people to take back their government.” However, the move has drawn opposition from several foreign countries, including the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom.  In a joint statement on Saturday morning, the three heads of state called on U.S. and Iranian officials to resume negotiations and urged the Iranian regime specifically “to seek a negotiated solution.” “Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future,” the leaders wrote. Add as preferred source on Google Tags Defense Department Donald Trump Iran Iran nuclear program Israel John Bolton Lindsey Graham Trump administration U.S. strikes in Iran U.S.-Iran nuclear talks Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More International News See All Senate Graham says European allies have ‘gone pathetically soft’ over Iran response by Sarah Davis 53 minutes ago Senate  /  53 minutes ago