During Friday’s episode of CNN News Central, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately undermining diplomatic efforts with Iran in order to draw the United States into a military conflict.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu has always wanted to drag the United States into a war with Iran,” Van Hollen said. “This is also why he tried to sabotage the Iran nuclear deal—the JCPOA—during the Obama administration.”
Van Hollen emphasized the original purpose of the JCPOA: to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon through diplomatic means. He blamed former President Donald Trump for abandoning the agreement and pointed out that Netanyahu had strongly opposed it from the beginning.
Co-host Sara Sidner asked Van Hollen to clarify his recent claim that Netanyahu “outsmarted” Trump.
Van Hollen responded, “Netanyahu has long pushed for military action against Iran. He supported the Iraq War, which many in the Bush administration believed would be quick and easy. He also worked to derail the JCPOA. While Trump campaigned on ending wars, Netanyahu has edged him closer to starting one.”
Van Hollen warned that Netanyahu is getting closer to achieving his long-term goal of provoking a U.S. military confrontation with Iran.
