Trump's Iran nuclear site strikes: risky bet on ‘peace' or a recipe for wider war?
President Donald Trump with his decision to order US
military strikes on Iran's nuclear facility is gambling that direct US involvement can deliver a decisive blow to a weakened Tehran while managing to avoid bringing the US into an expansive regional conflict.
Advertisement
Trump announced the strikes on three Iranian enrichment facilities – Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan – and said that a 'full payload of BOMBS was dropped' on Fordow.
'All planes are safely on their way home,' Trump added in his post. 'Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!'
It remained to be seen whether the attacks mark the totality of direct American involvement in strikes against Iran or the opening salvo of a larger campaign.
The decision to directly involve the US comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities.
Advertisement
The strikes are a perilous decision for the US, as Iran has pledged to retaliate if it joined the Israeli assault. The stakes are also high for Trump personally – he won the White House on the promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts and scoffed at the value of American interventionism.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Standard
an hour ago
- The Standard
Iran's Atomic Energy Organization says it will not allow nuclear development to stop
Iranian flags are displayed on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol as part of a demonstration organized by activists who support regime change by the people of Iran, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 20, 2025. (Reuters)
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Israel-Iran conflict: world reacts to US strikes on Tehran's nuclear facilities
The reaction of world leaders after US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday (Iran time) ranged from Israel lauding President Donald Trump's decision to the UN calling for de-escalation and some countries condemning the attacks. Israel 'Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history. History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded statement. United Nations 'I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,' United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. 'I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law. At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.' New Zealand 'We acknowledge developments in the last 24 hours, including President Trump's announcement of US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical further escalation is avoided. New Zealand strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy. We urge all parties to return to talks. Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action,' New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement. Australia
The Standard
2 hours ago
- The Standard
Airlines keep avoiding Middle East airspace after US attack on Iran
Russia says any use of tactical nuclear weapons by US in Iran would be catastrophic, TASS reports
