WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the Israel-Iran conflict is “over” and successfully urged allies to boost defense spending at the NATO leaders’ summit.
Trump defended U.S. strikes on Iranian enrichment sites over the weekend and warned that if Iran rebuilds its nuclear program, the United States would strike again.
“This was a devastating attack, and it knocked them for a loop. And you know, if it didn’t, they wouldn’t have settled,” Trump told reporters.
NATO agrees to 5% defense spending target
NATO allies agreed to more than double their defense spending target — from 2% to 5% — upping the alliance’s goal “in response to significant threats to our security,” NATO members said in a statement.
The 5% goal consists of “at least” 3.5% annual GDP for “core” defense requirements, with the rest allocated to “critical infrastructure,” according to the statement.
During a news conference Wednesday, Trump applauded NATO members for their contribution change, which he called a “monumental win.”
“Almost all of them are going to be contributing now 5%, a number that people are surprised at,” Trump said. “But you need it today.”
Trump had previously urged the other countries to contribute that amount.
Spain, which has called Trump’s 5% goal “incompatible with our worldview,” will not be participating.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a “long and substantive meeting” with Trump during the summit.
“We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace,” Zelenskyy said. “We spoke about how to protect our people. We appreciate the attention and the readiness to help bring peace closer.”
When Trump was asked why he had not been able to end the Russia-Ukraine war within the first week, as he promised during the campaign, he acknowledged that “it has been more difficult than other wars.”
‘We think it’s over’: Trump on Israel, Iran’s ’12-day war‘
While addressing reporters Wednesday, Trump said he believes Israel and Iran’s conflict is “over,” after a ceasefire between the two countries appeared to hold overnight.
Trump touted recent U.S. strikes on Iran, which he deemed “very, very successful” and an “obliteration.” Over the weekend, the U.S. conducted “Operation Midnight Hammer,” which struck three Iranian nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
He has previously claimed the attack “ended the war.” Trump said the U.S. will meet with Iran “next week.”
Democrats on Capitol Hill have raised concerns about the strikes occurring without congressional approval, citing a lack of information and transparency from the Trump administration.
They have voiced outrage and demanded answers after the Trump administration postponed a pair of meetings to brief Congress on the war in the Middle East. Some want to know more about the exact damage to Iran’s nuclear program.
US intel contradicts Trump’s Iran damage claims
Trump’s team was confident the strikes had destroyed Iran’s facilities, but an early report from the Defense Intelligence Agency said the U.S. strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program by only a few months.
The report, described to the Associated Press by two people familiar with it, contradicted statements from Trump, who has said the Iranian nuclear program was “completely and fully obliterated.”
During the news conference, Trump repeatedly attacked media outlets like CNN and the New York Times for their stories about the intelligence report.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the report a preliminary assessment and said there was low confidence in it.
“The report said what it said,” Trump added.