Iran Is Trump's Deterrence Moment
Joe Biden's Presidency began to decline the day he abandoned Afghanistan to the Taliban. American deterrence collapsed, and U.S. enemies saw their moment to strike in Ukraine and the Middle East. Donald Trump now has an opportunity to reverse Mr. Biden's Afghan legacy and restore deterrence if he helps Israel destroy Iran's nuclear program.
These are the strategic stakes as the U.S. President contemplates whether to assist Israel in bombing Iran's nuclear sites. Losing the war but still resisting the dismantlement of their nuclear program, Iran's leaders are hoping Mr. Trump will come to their rescue with more delaying diplomacy.
Yet, as Mr. Trump has said many times, Iran can end the Israeli assault by agreeing to roll up its nuclear program. Dismantle its enrichment capacity under international supervision, destroy its centrifuges, and allow for unhindered future inspections. Iran's refusal to do so, even as it risks losing much of its non-nuclear military power and top commanders, shows that the regime wants a nuclear weapon more than it wants peace.
The world is watching closely to see how Mr. Trump responds, especially the hard men in Moscow and Beijing. Does he help a close ally remove a global threat to peace, and diminish a member of the axis of U.S. adversaries? Or does he listen to the voices of American appeasement on the left and right who fear any use of force more than they fear a nuclear-armed radical regime?
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