Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says three American presidents previously refused proposals linked to military action against Iran, while President Donald Trump ultimately agreed.
Speaking during an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Kerry said former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden had all declined to pursue war with Iran.
Kerry said those leaders believed diplomatic options had not been exhausted and that peaceful avenues should be fully explored before military action was considered.
He also drew parallels to past conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Iraq War, warning that governments must be honest with the public before asking military families to bear the costs of war.
The remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his long-standing position that Iran poses a major regional and global threat.
Recent media reports have claimed Netanyahu strongly argued for coordinated U.S.-Israeli action and suggested Iran was vulnerable to internal political change.
Kerry challenged those assumptions, saying predictions of regime collapse or mass uprising had not materialized.
Separate reports have also suggested Vice President JD Vance raised concerns in private discussions about overly optimistic expectations surrounding the conflict.
The comments add to a wider debate in Washington over how the United States should respond to Middle East crises, balance alliances, and weigh diplomacy against military force.
As tensions continue, Kerry’s remarks highlight how decisions about war often span multiple administrations — and remain among the most consequential choices any government can make.