A group of 77 retired military commanders are raising concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities and are urging President Donald Trump to back Israel. The appeal was made in a letter from the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), emphasizing the need for Israel to take decisive action against Iran.
Released shortly before President Trump’s speech to Congress, the letter highlights the danger a nuclear-armed Iran would pose to U.S. national security. The signatories stress the urgency of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and assert that action must be taken swiftly to prevent this scenario.
The letter also underscores Israel’s request for American support to enhance the effectiveness of its efforts and mitigate the risk of potential Iranian backlash. The retired commanders urge expedited assistance in this regard.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a meeting with a group of students in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday, Nov. 1. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
In the same news conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a staunch opponent of a nuclear Iran, said that “Israel and America are shoulder-to-shoulder in countering the threat of Iran.”
While the theme of President Trump’s speech Tuesday night is “Renewal of the American Dream,” he is still expected to speak about domestic and foreign issues — one of which could be the threat of a nuclear Iran.
President Donald Trump (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right). (Getty Images/Fox News Digital)
On Feb. 4, President Trump signed a national security memorandum declaring the return of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime and vowing to block any and all paths to a nuclear weapon.
“Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terror and has aided Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, the Taliban, al-Qa’ida, and other terrorist networks,” the memorandum reads.
In the memorandum, President Trump also says, “Iran bears responsibility for the horrific Hamas massacres committed on October 7, 2023.”
Tonight, there will be someone in the audience of the joint address who experienced the brutality of an Iran-funded terror group firsthand. Former Hamas hostage Noa Argamani, who was rescued by the Israel Defense Forces in June, will attend as a guest of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
