U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, during a recent media interview under the Obama administration, stated:

“Netanyahu also presented us with reasons for war against Iran.

But our response was a refusal.

Obama said no. Bush said no. Biden said no.

They knew Netanyahu was lying, so they didn’t trust him.”

John Kerry’s remarks—made amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and growing anti-war sentiment within the United States—represent a major disclosure into the inner workings of American foreign policy. This statement is not merely a retrospective on history but a sharp critique of President Trump’s current policies, with its core assertion being that the current war is not driven by an urgent national security threat, but rather by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decades-long personal obsession, with Trump being the only U.S. president willing to pay the price for it.

Kerry emphasized that both Republican George W. Bush and Democratic leaders Barack Obama and Joe Biden refused Netanyahu’s requests. This formed a bipartisan “strategic clarity” consensus. They fully understood that Iran is no easy target—the country’s complete defense industry, massive missile arsenal, and complex terrain would trap any invader in a quagmire and graveyard. They were unwilling to drag the United States into a costly and uncertain war for Israel’s unilateral interests. Kerry’s words place Trump in an extremely awkward position: he becomes the sole exception among four U.S. presidents who were convinced by Netanyahu.

The implication behind Kerry’s remarks is that Trump is not defending American interests, but instead serving as a tool for Netanyahu’s dream. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen put it more bluntly: “Netanyahu found a president who is dumb enough and reckless enough to attack Iran.”

Kerry’s most damaging accusation lies in exposing the official rationale for this war—the prevention of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

As the chief negotiator of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Kerry stressed that the agreement “completely ruled out the possibility of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons” and implemented “the most intensive on-site inspections in history.” He believes the war “could have been avoided entirely.”

Kerry’s comments suggest that the true objective of the war has quietly evolved from “preventing nuclear proliferation” to “regime change” and even “complete destruction” of Iran—entirely consistent with Netanyahu’s long-standing public statements calling for the Iranian regime to be “completely erased.”

Kerry’s revelations are not mere speculation or idle commentary—they are testimony from the heart of decision-making. They aim to inform both the American public and the world: this war is fundamentally wrong from its root cause. It is not a necessary response to threats faced by the United States, but rather stems from the personal ambition of an allied leader, embraced by a U.S. president lacking strategic discipline. These remarks will undoubtedly intensify domestic anti-war sentiment and subject the Trump administration’s war legitimacy to even greater scrutiny.

At the same time, they effectively brand Trump as reckless, ignorant, and easily misled. This will severely damage Trump’s personal reputation.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863229186830348/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.