In the latest political finger-pointing, former President Donald Trump has accused President Joe Biden of indirectly causing the death of three U.S. servicemen and injury of over 25 others in an attack carried out on a U.S. base in Iraq.
The attack was carried out by an Iranian-affiliated militia group, and it was not the first of its kind. However, Trump claimed the group, Kata’ib Hezbollah, had been weakened during his time in office but regained strength following the soft approach of the Biden administration.
In a statement published on his new social media platform, Truth Social, Trump alleged that his “Maximum Pressure Policy,” designed to curb Iran’s nefarious activities, had paid off before Biden gave Iran billions of dollars, a move Trump believes facilitated their proxy groups’ strength.
The former president then suggested that the attack carried out on the US base was foreseeable, as the group had laid out its intentions clearly beforehand. “They said what they were going to do; they did it,” Trump claimed.
While Trump has been a vocal critic of Biden’s foreign policy, the White House has maintained that it inherited a flawed Iran policy from the previous administration. The US effort to end Iran’s nuclear program through economic sanctions had caused problems for Iranians in accessing ordinary goods, while Iran continued to grow its nuclear program.
The Biden administration has said it will attempt to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump had withdrawn from. Analysts believe the move would alleviate some of the financial pressure on Iran, although critics like Trump argue that brokered deals within the region have previously triggered unintended consequences.
The US military has vowed to take appropriate action against the Iranian-backed militia, and the Biden administration has vowed to explore diplomatic options, especially with regard to potentially re-engaging with Iran to address regional challenges. However, the situation remains tense, with some observers fearing the potential for a wider conflict in the region.
