Washington DC, March 19 -- The decision to start the US-Israel-Iran confrontation was heavily influenced by Israel, former Director of the US National Counterterrorism Centre Joe Kent told Tucker Carlson in a detailed discussion on the perceived nuclear threat from Iran, on the Tucker Carlson Show.

"The Israelis drove the decision to take this action, which we knew would set off a series of events because the Iranians would retaliate," Kent said, highlighting Israel's central role in the escalation.

Carlson questioned Kent on whether Iran was truly close to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Kent dismissed the notion, saying, "No, they weren't three weeks ago when this started, and they weren't in June either. I mean, the Iranians have had a ...