Donald Trump has taken the United States into war with Iran despite decades of self-professed aversion to foreign entanglements, particularly in the Middle East, and repeated pledges to focus primarily on the Western Hemisphere with an “America first” agenda.

Trump’s predicate for joining Israel in attacks on Iran’s leadership, military and critical infrastructure this weekend was that Iran posed unacceptable and imminent risks to U.S. and allied interests.

Similar arguments were made in the aftermath of Trump’s action last month to remove former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power in a military strike.