Trump, under pressure: The Pentagon would have admitted in Congress that Iran does not intend to strike first, contradicting the president's arguments / Some experts compare the attack on Iran to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Trump administration acknowledged before Congress that there was no information to support claims that Iran was planning a preemptive attack on American forces, thus contradicting one of the main arguments for launching the recent attacks, Reuters reports, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

Pentagon officials confirmed that, although Iran and allied groups pose a threat, there was no evidence that they would attack first.

It is worth noting that the United States and Israel launched the most extensive attacks on Iran in decades on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, sinking Iranian warships, and striking over 1,000 targets, with the operation announced as one of long duration, lasting weeks.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that only 27% of Americans approve of the attacks, while 56% believe that Trump is too willing to use military force.

Democratic criticisms emphasize that Trump is waging a "war of choice," calling into question the abandonment of peace negotiations. Additionally, most respondents would be less inclined to support the military campaign if it led to casualties among American soldiers or increased fuel prices.

Trump's approval rating has dropped to 39%.

Trump accused of illegal attacks on Iran

Experts in international law believe that the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran are illegal, violating the prohibition on the use of force in the UN Charter, in the absence of a Security Council resolution or a case of self-defense against an actual or imminent attack. Legal expert Kenneth Roth describes the operation as an "act of aggression" comparable to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, arguing that Donald Trump's invocation of an "imminent threat" is not supported by evidence, and the recourse to "prevention" or "preemption" to avoid possible future risks does not constitute legal grounds for war, as it would open the door to an unlimited number of armed conflicts.

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