A tough decision was on the horizon for the U.S. President. He didn’t know what he was going to do.
But Donald Trump was able to breathe a sigh of relief after this news of what an ally just did rolled in.
Israel Strikes Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions, Clearing Path for Trump’s Diplomacy
Israel’s daring airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear program and military leadership, launched Thursday night under the codename “Operation Rising Lion,” have reshaped the Middle East’s strategic landscape. Executed with months of clandestine planning, the operation delivered a devastating blow to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and command structure. The Trump administration, while publicly advocating diplomacy, appears to have quietly enabled Israel to take the lead, allowing the U.S. to avoid direct military entanglement while advancing its goal of neutralizing Iran’s threat.
The operation’s scale was staggering. Israeli forces, combining special operations, drones, and air-launched strikes, targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, air defenses, and key military figures. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press the campaign “as long as it takes” to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities entirely. The strikes come after stalled U.S.-Iran talks, with Israel stepping in where diplomacy faltered, aligning with the Trump administration’s strategy of leveraging allies to counter adversaries.
“Israel has again made military history with a complex attack including special forces deep inside Iran, drones and air launched strikes,” Brent Sadler, senior research fellow for naval warfare and advanced technology at the Heritage Foundation, said after the news broke. The operation’s precision crippled Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles and nuclear infrastructure, while eliminating senior military leaders, dealing a severe setback to Tehran’s regional influence.
The Trump administration’s role, though publicly understated, was pivotal. U.S. and Israeli officials reportedly coordinated in secret to maintain ambiguity, ensuring Iran remained unprepared. President Trump and other officials openly expressed reluctance for Israeli strikes, emphasizing diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program. This messaging, however, was a calculated feint to keep Iran’s assets exposed.
“We had a clear U.S. green light,” one Israeli official told Axios, revealing the depth of behind-the-scenes alignment. Netanyahu briefed aides to claim Trump had urged restraint during a Monday call, but in reality, the conversation finalized strike coordination. This deception allowed Israel to catch Iran off guard, maximizing the operation’s impact.
“It’s clear the earlier U.S. messaging was part of a coordinated deception,” Simone Ledeen, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East during President Donald Trump’s first term, told reporters. By projecting hesitation, the Trump administration ensured Iran’s leadership and nuclear assets remained stationary, ripe for Israel’s meticulously planned assault.
I’m seeing freedom-loving Iranian exiles, Christians, and dissidents all over X cheering what Israel is doing.
We might just witness the end of the most wicked Islamist regime in modern history, and hope for scattered Iranians to return to a free Iran.
Let’s pray to that end,…
— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) June 13, 2025
Israel’s execution was flawless. Mossad operatives, reportedly operating a covert drone base inside Iran, disabled air defenses with smuggled missiles and drones. This paved the way for approximately 200 Israeli Air Force jets to strike nuclear sites and leadership targets. The operation’s sophistication drew comparisons to Ukraine’s strikes on Russian assets, showcasing Israel’s ability to penetrate and disrupt a heavily fortified adversary.
The strikes also capitalized on Iran’s weakened regional position. Since the October 7 attacks, Iranian proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas have been significantly degraded, reducing Tehran’s ability to retaliate through its terrorist networks. Israel’s prior 2024 strikes on Iran, in response to an earlier Iranian attack, had already strained Tehran’s air defenses, leaving them vulnerable to this latest offensive.
Among the operation’s most significant outcomes was the reported k*lling of IRGC commander-in-chief Hossein Salami, alongside other top military leaders and nuclear scientists, according to Iranian state media reports reviewed by Reuters. These losses have left Iran’s military and nuclear programs in disarray, with key figures eliminated in a single, coordinated blow.
“Israel’s strikes are targeting the heart of Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure,” Ledeen has said. The revelation of a secret Israeli drone base inside Iran highlights the operation’s meticulous preparation. With Iran’s command structure fractured and its nuclear program reeling, Tehran’s ability to mount a meaningful response appears severely limited.
The Trump administration’s public stance has been one of calculated distance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Israel’s actions as “unilateral,” emphasizing U.S. focus on protecting American assets in the region. This rhetoric allows the administration to maintain diplomatic flexibility while benefiting from Israel’s decisive action against a shared adversary.
Iran’s response has been predictably chaotic. Tehran launched approximately 100 weaponized drones in retaliation, but with its proxies weakened and air defenses compromised, the effort lacks the potency to challenge Israel directly. Iran has also canceled further nuclear negotiations with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, signaling its desperation in the face of Israel’s onslaught.
President Trump, however, has kept the door open for diplomacy. “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back,” he told Fox News. This balanced approach allows the administration to project strength through Israel’s actions while offering Iran a potential off-ramp, albeit from a position of weakness.
The operation’s success lies in its dual impact: Israel’s strikes have crippled Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities, while the Trump administration avoids the political and military costs of direct involvement. By empowering Israel to act decisively, the U.S. has effectively outsourced the heavy lifting, preserving its resources and diplomatic leverage for future negotiations.
As Israel continues its campaign, the Middle East watches closely. “All told, this is just day one of what will likely be a long air campaign to ensure the best outcomes. U.S. forces remain vigilant and if attacked expect a swift U.S. response,” Sadler shared with reporters. With Iran’s leadership decimated and its nuclear ambitions in tatters, the Trump administration’s strategy of strategic alignment with Israel appears to have paid dividends, reshaping the region without firing a single American shot.
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