Masterstroke or mistake? Trump defies his base and seizes the moment to strike Iran
Washington: Five months after the starter's gun fired on Donald Trump's second presidency, he has made his most consequential decision.
Perhaps not just the most consequential decision of his presidency but of several, given the decision to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities was one faced by many of his predecessors, who ultimately opted against the idea.
The merits of this cannot and will not be known today, not until the damage to the three Iranian sites has been assessed and the regime's retaliation, whatever that may be, has taken place.
But politically, this move fundamentally changes the shape of the Trump presidency. The accusation of timidity and indecision – Trump Always Chickens Out (TACO) – that has so irritated him in recent months can no longer be credibly levelled.
Did that irksome critique contribute to his resolve? We don't know. But it is becoming clearer that Trump has followed a predetermined path, or at the very least, seized on an opportunity with relish – and along the way, obscured his intentions to America and the world.
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It was not true on Thursday when Trump told Iran that he would decide within two weeks whether to intervene. It is looking increasingly untrue that Israel, when it kicked off this offensive nine days ago, acted unilaterally and without US involvement, as we were told at the time.
'We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before,' Trump said on Sunday, AEST, of the US and Israel. Of Iran's state-sponsored terrorism, he said: 'I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen.'
His short speech after the US attack contrasted starkly with his rhetoric on Iran over the past weeks and months. Gone was the language of diplomacy, the love for the Iranian people, the optimism that it's never too late for a deal.
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Daily Telegraph
20 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
World braces for what Iran might do next after US attacks three nuclear sites
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. Israel has shut down schools and banned gatherings across the country, and American troops are bracing for counter-attacks, as the world waits to see how Iran will respond to today's US strikes. Iran has already launched missiles at Israel as its Tel Aviv citizens scramble to shelter with reports of some casualties. President Donald Trump said the US 'successfully' carried out air strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, 'obliterating' the Fordow facility as well as those in Natanz and Isfahan. After the attacks, Hossein Shariatmadari, a representative of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the Islamic republic was ready to respond. 'Now it is our turn to, without wasting time, as a first step, fire missiles at the US naval fleet in Bahrain and at the same time close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German and French ships,' he said in the Iranian Kayhan newspaper. Later, an official statement from the Iranian Foreign Minister warned 'the United States has launched a dangerous war' and would be 'fully responsible' for the 'consequences'. Israeli air defence system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Mr Trump told Iran the US was willing to continue its aerial campaign on Iran, including 'greater' future attacks, if it did not comply with peace efforts. 'Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight,' he said in a late-night post to Truth Social. As the world waits to see how the Iran will respond, US military leaders are reportedly warning troops to brace for potential retaliatory strikes. There are more than 40,000 US troops and civilians working for the Pentagon across the Middle East, according to figures from the New York Times, in nations such as Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emitrates. US President Donald Trump addresses the nation, alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) from the White House in Washington, DC on June 21, 2025, following the announcement that the US bombed nuclear sites in Iran. Picture: Carlos Barria / NewsWire POOL Experts all agreed that Iran would retaliate against the US and Iran's foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi hinted on social media that nothing was off the table. He described the US attack as 'outrageous' and one that 'will have everlasting consequences'. 'The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations,' he wrote on X. 'The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour.' 'In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.' This handout satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Isfahan nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran on June 14, 2025, after it was hit by Israeli strikes. President Donald Trump said June 21, 2025 the US military has carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordo. Picture: Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies / AFP Retired US army officer John Spencer told ABC News that Iran could respond to the conflict via an 'irrational route'. 'It could go with Hezbollah, which still has a lot of capabilities, against Israel, (and where) there are hundred of thousands of American citizens,' he said. 'It could (activate) Shia-backed militia groups in Iraq to attack American bases. It's ballistic program, which is about 50 per cent destroyed, it could make that fatal mistake of launching ballistic missiles at American bases within its range.' Meanwhile Omar Rahman, from the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, told the ABC that Iran had its 'back to the wall' and it's only option was to retaliate to ensure the regime's credibility. 'I think you're going to see some sort of military response here against US assets and military installations in the region,' he said. 'That could be against aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, it could be against any number of the bases and tens of thousands of US soldiers stationed in the region.' Chillingly, others have warned that the US attack good push Iran to develop a nuclear weapon and this was likely the beginning of the war, rather than the end. A picture of the destruction at site of an Iranian missile attack in a residential area in Beersheba in southern Israel, on June 20, 2025. Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on June 20, a week into the war between the longtime enemies. (Photo by MAYA LEVIN / AFP) Israel, meanwhile, is bracing for further Iranian retaliation. Shortly after Mr Trump confirmed the US strikes, the Israel Defence Force's Home Front Command declared all schools across the country would close, social gatherings were banned and only essential businesses were allowed to operate, effective immediately. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee, who heads the IDF's Arab media unit, issued an update to security restrictions in Israel. 'It was decided to move all regions of the country to the level of essential work,' he wrote on X. 'The instructions include prohibiting educational activities, gatherings, and work centres, with the exception of essential work areas.' People sit outside pitched tents as they take shelter at a bus station in Tel Aviv on June 21, 2025 amid fears of an Iranian missile attack. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) Around the world some are sounding the alarm that the escalation of the war could result in dire consequences. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the US strikes on Iran were 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,' he said. '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.' Originally published as World braces for what Iran will do next
News.com.au
30 minutes ago
- News.com.au
World braces for what Iran will do next
Israel has shut down schools and banned gatherings across the country, and American troops are bracing for counter-attacks, as the world waits to see how Iran will respond to today's US strikes. Iran has already launched missiles at Israel as its Tel Aviv citizens scramble to shelter with reports of some casualties. President Donald Trump said the US 'successfully' carried out air strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, 'obliterating' the Fordow facility as well as those in Natanz and Isfahan. After the attacks, Hossein Shariatmadari, a representative of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the Islamic republic was ready to respond. 'Now it is our turn to, without wasting time, as a first step, fire missiles at the US naval fleet in Bahrain and at the same time close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German and French ships,' he said in the Iranian Kayhan newspaper. Later, an official statement from the Iranian Foreign Minister warned 'the United States has launched a dangerous war' and would be 'fully responsible' for the 'consequences'. Mr Trump told Iran the US was willing to continue its aerial campaign on Iran, including 'greater' future attacks, if it did not comply with peace efforts. 'Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight,' he said in a late-night post to Truth Social. As the world waits to see how the Iran will respond, US military leaders are reportedly warning troops to brace for potential retaliatory strikes. There are more than 40,000 US troops and civilians working for the Pentagon across the Middle East, according to figures from the New York Times, in nations such as Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emitrates. Experts all agreed that Iran would retaliate against the US and Iran's foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi hinted on social media that nothing was off the table. He described the US attack as 'outrageous' and one that 'will have everlasting consequences'. 'The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations,' he wrote on X. 'The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour.' 'In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.' Retired US army officer John Spencer told ABC News that Iran could respond to the conflict via an 'irrational route'. 'It could go with Hezbollah, which still has a lot of capabilities, against Israel, (and where) there are hundred of thousands of American citizens,' he said. 'It could (activate) Shia-backed militia groups in Iraq to attack American bases. It's ballistic program, which is about 50 per cent destroyed, it could make that fatal mistake of launching ballistic missiles at American bases within its range.' Meanwhile Omar Rahman, from the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, told the ABC that Iran had its 'back to the wall' and it's only option was to retaliate to ensure the regime's credibility. 'I think you're going to see some sort of military response here against US assets and military installations in the region,' he said. 'That could be against aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, it could be against any number of the bases and tens of thousands of US soldiers stationed in the region.' Chillingly, others have warned that the US attack good push Iran to develop a nuclear weapon and this was likely the beginning of the war, rather than the end. Israel, meanwhile, is bracing for further Iranian retaliation. Shortly after Mr Trump confirmed the US strikes, the Israel Defence Force's Home Front Command declared all schools across the country would close, social gatherings were banned and only essential businesses were allowed to operate, effective immediately. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee, who heads the IDF's Arab media unit, issued an update to security restrictions in Israel. 'It was decided to move all regions of the country to the level of essential work,' he wrote on X. 'The instructions include prohibiting educational activities, gatherings, and work centres, with the exception of essential work areas.' Around the world some are sounding the alarm that the escalation of the war could result in dire consequences. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the US strikes on Iran were 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,' he said. '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.'
West Australian
31 minutes ago
- West Australian
United States Senator Bernie Sanders learns of Iranian strikes live while speaking at rally
United States Senator Bernie Sanders was speaking live at a rally when news broke of American air strikes in Iran. Footage shows Sanders speaking at the rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as part of his 'Fight the Oligarchy' tour across the US when news broke of the American attacks at three Iranian nuclear sites . WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Footage shows Bernie Sanders learning of American strikes live on stage. Sanders read Trumps statement live to the audience on Saturday night local time, who began booing and chanting 'no more war'. 'It is so grossly unconstitutional,' he said. 'The only entity that can take this country to war is the US Congress. The president does not have the right.' Trump had moments before announced on his social media platform Truth Social that the US had executed three 'very successful attacks' on the sites at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. Sanders has been an outspoken critic of Trump and his political agenda, with the Independent senator of Vermont earlier this month calling the US presiden t a danger to American democracy. 'The American people do not want more war, more death,' Sanders said at the rally. 'It might be a good idea if we concentrate on the problems that exist (in America) than getting involved in another war we do not want.' Trump had only days ago given himself a two-week deadline to decide if US forces will strike Iran. The White House had insisted the delay was to give Iran leadership a chance to negotiate and shut down its nuclear program.
