Until Saturday night, the world waited to see whether President Donald Trump would join Israel’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Now we have the answer.
In a televised address from the White House, President Trump called the strikes a ‘spectacular military success’ and a ‘historic moment for the United States, Israel, and the world.’ He confirmed that Fordow—Iran’s deeply buried nuclear enrichment site near Qom—was among the targets, and warned, ‘There are many targets left.’ His message was clear: Iran must ‘make peace or face tragedy far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.’
The U.S. has struck decisively. Whether the strike succeeds in halting Iran’s nuclear program—as the president boldly claims—remains to be seen. What is clear is that the geopolitical fuse is lit, and the consequences are just beginning.
So far, the administration has not provided public evidence that Iran was mere ‘weeks away’ from building a nuclear bomb, as the White House press secretary alleged. That claim may have helped justify the strike, but it rests more on assumption than on firm intelligence.
Yes, Iran has enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels—but that alone does not make a bomb. Tehran still needs to master warhead design, detonator synchronization, reentry shielding, and delivery systems. There is no verified proof it has done so.
As I wrote for Fox News last week, bombs can destroy facilities—but they cannot erase knowledge. Many of Iran’s scientists are still alive, and their motivation may now be stronger than ever.
Tehran now faces a choice: capitulate or retaliate. Based on history, ideology, and culture, the odds overwhelmingly favor retaliation.
What is more, the strike could backfire politically inside Iran. Rather than destabilizing the regime, it may unify it. Public humiliation of key sites like Fordow plays directly into the regime’s ‘Great Satan’ narrative, fueling nationalism and quelling dissent.
The U.S. and its allies must now pivot quickly to containment, deterrence, and resilience. Air defenses must be reinforced. Cyber infrastructure must be secured. Intelligence agencies must track Iranian networks abroad. And most importantly, diplomatic channels must remain open—to allies and, when possible, to adversaries.
