A Strike on Iran and Defiance of the White House
Israel has launched a large-scale strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, ignoring persistent appeals from President Donald Trump to avoid military escalation. As Bloomberg reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, going against the position of the White House, ordered an operation that targeted not only Iran’s nuclear facilities but also its ballistic missile sites, military leaders, and even nuclear scientists.
The decision came just hours after President Trump told reporters he still believed in a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Iran — despite Netanyahu’s longstanding skepticism toward such a possibility.
“I’d much prefer an agreement. As long as I think there is an agreement, I don’t want them [Israel] going in, because I think it would blow it,” the U.S. president said. “Might help it, actually, but it also could blow it.”
Iran’s Response and a Foreign Policy Challenge for Trump
Nevertheless, Israel opted for escalation. This not only pushed the region closer to direct military confrontation but also presented a serious foreign policy challenge for President Trump, who, upon returning to the White House, sought to distance the U.S. from past military entanglements in the Middle East. A critical question arises: can Donald Trump truly influence close allies if even a leader of a friendly state like Israel openly disregards his appeals?
Following the attack, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement emphasizing that Washington was not involved in the operation. However, he warned Iran not to retaliate against American assets or personnel.
“Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,” Rubio said.
According to Fox News, citing a phone interview with the president, Trump was informed of Israel’s plans in advance and was not surprised by the strike.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. Some current leaders likely won’t be returning,” Trump stated.
Previously, the president had repeatedly pledged to end the “failed military adventures” of the U.S. in the Middle East. His closest advisers, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio — once considered a traditional Iran hawk — have stressed that the era of U.S. wars in the region is over.
Talks Under Threat and Economic Risks
In recent weeks, the White House had even resumed contacts with Tehran regarding the restriction of Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Both the U.S. and Israel insist the program must end, while Iran maintains it has the right to peaceful nuclear energy.
Nevertheless, as Bloomberg notes, Netanyahu’s actions risk dragging the U.S. into a renewed Middle East conflict, despite Washington’s efforts to distance itself from the Israeli strikes. Iran has already vowed to deliver a “harsh blow” to both Israel and the U.S., significantly raising the potential for large-scale escalation.
Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged Iran to return to negotiations immediately:
“If Iran miscalculates and attacks American interests, our military will undoubtedly answer the call,” he said. “The wisest path is to reach a nuclear deal with the U.S. as soon as possible.”
Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy at the Cato Institute, noted:
“Netanyahu’s war has overtaken President Trump’s declaration that the U.S. is committed to diplomacy. Netanyahu has presented Trump with a fait accompli and dares him to oppose it.”
This comes at a particularly delicate moment for the White House. The global economy is already under pressure due to the Trump administration’s trade wars with both adversaries and allies. A new wave of instability threatens to trigger a recession. Asian markets reacted immediately to the Israeli strikes with a sharp rise in oil prices — the kind of inflation spike Trump has repeatedly blamed on his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Still, the U.S. remains one of Israel’s primary allies. Since 1948, Washington has consistently provided Israel with military and financial support. That support continues today — even amid widespread criticism of Israel’s campaign in Gaza against Hamas.
Matt Kroenig, senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, stated that Israel possesses the capability to carry out such an operation independently. However, he added:
“I doubt Israel would have done this without a wink and a nod from the Trump administration.”
This article was prepared based on materials published by Bloomberg. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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