Iran’s state-run media IRIB reported that James Carden, a former U.S. State Department official, said the U.S. war against Iran was not related to either the security of maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz or allegations that Tehran was pursuing nuclear weapons. He claimed the conflict was primarily driven by Iran’s support for regional groups opposed to Israel’s expansionist policies.
Carden said U.S. military actions against Iran were unrelated to protecting navigation routes in the Strait of Hormuz or addressing Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons ambitions.
Speaking to the media, he rejected claims that Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons or intended to use them against Israel, calling such allegations “baseless and far from reality.”
He said the main reason behind the conflict was Iran’s backing of regional allies that oppose Israel’s expansionist agenda and policies in the region.
Carden also referred to statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. He argued that Iran was not actually moving toward acquiring such weapons and that there was no sufficient evidence to support those claims.
He added that Iran’s religious and political leadership had opposed the development and use of nuclear weapons through religious rulings, and that Tehran was therefore not pursuing the production of such weapons.