Preemptive Defense and Nuclear Tension: Dr. José Benjamín Pérez Matos Backs Israeli Action Against Iran

Cayey, Puerto Rico – June 13, 2025

From Puerto Rico, the leader of the Kingdom of Peace and Justice Center weighed in on the situation following the launch of military operations against Iranian targets and questioned the international response. Amid heightened international tensions following the launch of Operation “Rising Lion” against military facilities in Iran, Dr. José Benjamín Pérez Matos offered an analysis centered on Israel’s right to take preventive action against threats that compromise its security and existence.

In his remarks, the president of the Kingdom of Peace and Justice Center expressed concern over how parts of global public opinion interpret the conflict, especially among younger generations. In that regard, he stated: “The younger generation doesn’t know the history; and the first thing they say is that Israel is to blame, instead of understanding why and everything that has happened.”

In line with his position, he reiterated his view on where nations should stand with regard to Israel, stating: “Because God is with the people of Israel, they are His firstborn… ‘Whoever blesses you will be blessed, and whoever curses you will be cursed.’ That is still in effect today.”

When addressing the strikes on sites linked to Iran’s nuclear program, Dr. José Benjamín Pérez Matos argued that the operation was a response to prior warnings and an ongoing risk. In light of this situation, he stated: “They have been repeatedly told to stop manufacturing all that material to produce an atomic bomb there in Iran; they have been told not to do it; and they remain determined to do it anyway… So what is Israel supposed to do? Well, it has to defend itself first!”

He then reinforced his argument with a straightforward analogy: “If someone tells you that person is going to hurt you, what are you going to do? You’re not going to wait for the harm to happen to then complain. And that’s what Israel has done now: it has defended itself.”

His analysis also included a critique aimed at the international community’s response to earlier attacks against Israel. In this regard, he noted: “I bet they won’t say they sent 300 drones recently! And thank God because of that defense they didn’t do damage. But what would have happened if those 300 had fallen? Do you know how many people would have died?!” questioning the lack of coverage of these events in the global debate.

Likewise, he warned that the conflict shows no signs of letting up soon, stating: “They’ve already been intercepted; but the attacks will continue,” anticipating the continuation of tensions in the region.

Dr. José Benjamín Pérez Matos’s overall assessment positions Israel’s action within a framework of preemptive defense against strategic threats, while challenging prevailing international interpretations of the conflict’s development.