Iranians saw America as better friend than Russia before war: Official

(NewsNation) — Iran's Health Ministry spokesman told NewsNation that Iranians viewed America as a better friend than Russia before President Donald Trump backed Israel's attacks.

"There was no perception about America prior to this. Some didn't like America, some had no opinion, and some considered America a better friend than Russia," spokesman Hossein Kermanpour in an interview with NewsNation.

A week into their war, Israel and Iran exchanged more strikes Friday as new diplomatic efforts led by the Europeans took place in Geneva.

Kermanpour said Iranians were "very surprised" by Trump and European support for the Israeli operation, adding that it confirmed suspicions that "America is not to be trusted." He said the strikes came "in the midst of fruitful negotiations."

However, he said that Iranians do not support U.S. involvement in the conflict with Israel following the recent strikes.

Iran's Health Ministry reported more than 3,000 people injured in Israeli strikes, with 90% being civilians, and about 400 killed, according to Kermanpour.

Kermanpour said about 2,000 of the injured have been treated and discharged. The casualties include a 2-month-old baby who was killed and a 4-year-old boy among the wounded, making them the youngest victims and injured, respectively.

The Health Ministry spokesman said the attacks occurred "while the people were sleeping" and targeted "more than ten provinces of the country, including Tehran," killing what he described as "a significant number of civilians and military,” calling them “martyrs.”