US House speaker Johnson says he hopes Iran crisis won’t lead to war
Mike Johnson, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, said he hoped the United States would not need to take military action in Iran, as he defended President Donald Trump’s “strong show of moral support” for protesters.
In an interview aired by the BBC, Johnson was asked whether the United States was willing to use force to bring Iran’s government to an end after Trump said “help is on the way” and amid reports of protesters being killed.
“We certainly hope that it doesn’t come to that,” Johnson said, adding that Trump’s public comments had encouraged freedom.
Pressed on what Trump was willing to do beyond moral support, Johnson said: “Well, you would have to ask him that.”
Johnson added that under the US constitutional system, Congress has the role of declaring war and said: “I don’t think we’re anywhere close to that or in any necessity of that.”
He also said the “indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens and protesters is detestable” and called on world leaders to speak out.
Iran’s judiciary spokesman rejected as “completely false” a report by Iran International that put the death toll from the recent crackdown at 12,000, and denied claims that families are being charged to receive bodies.
Asghar Jahanagir dismissed the 12,000 figure as a fabrication promoted by what he called anti-Islamic Republic media.
He argued that whatever the number of deaths, responsibility lay with those he accused of inciting unrest.
He also denied reports that money is taken from families to hand over bodies, saying forensic services are provided free of charge.
