The United States, alongside Israel, hammered Iran’s nuclear ambitions into the Stone Age with precision strikes on Sunday, sending a clear message to Tehran’s mullahs.
Fox News reported that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called it a “shot in the arm” for American credibility, a polite way of saying the U.S. just flexed its muscles and meant it.
Early Sunday, U.S. B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles targeted Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan in a coordinated strike with Israel dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, aiming to cripple Iran’s nuclear program and restore U.S. global clout.
The Trump administration hailed the mission as a triumph, claiming it obliterated Iran’s nuclear capabilities and paved the way for a ceasefire that ended the 12-Day War. Yet, whispers of doubt linger, with some questioning whether the strikes were as devastating as advertised.
From Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, B-2 bombers flew a grueling 37-hour nonstop mission, dropping 12 Massive Ordnance Penetrators on Fordow and two on Natanz. A U.S. submarine unleashed over two dozen cruise missiles on Isfahan, ensuring Iran’s nuclear infrastructure felt the full weight of American resolve.
Israeli assessments suggest the strikes set Iran’s nuclear program back “many years,” a claim echoed by top Trump officials who boasted of “obliterating” Tehran’s capabilities.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth crowed, “President Trump directed the most complex and secretive military operation in history.” But his chest-thumping invites scrutiny—can one operation truly dismantle decades of Iran’s nuclear scheming?
Not everyone’s buying the victory lap. A leaked Defense Intelligence Agency assessment, labeled “low-confidence,” hinted that key components of Iran’s nuclear facilities might have survived the onslaught. Rice slammed the leak as “irresponsible,” arguing it muddies the waters when the evidence points to significant damage.
“We will eventually know precisely how much the Iranian program was damaged,” Rice said on Fox News’ “Special Report” with Bret Baier, “but I think all of the evidence is that it was substantially, significantly damaged.”
Her confidence is refreshing in an era where leaks and doubts often drown out decisive action. Still, the whereabouts of Iran’s highly enriched uranium remains a nagging question, casting a shadow over the mission’s success.
The strikes culminated in a ceasefire, halting the 12 Day War and giving the region a rare moment to catch its breath. Hegseth credited Trump’s “decisive military action” for creating conditions to end the conflict, a bold claim that aligns with the administration’s narrative of strength through action.
Now, the Trump administration is pushing for diplomatic talks with Iran, a move that feels like offering a handshake to a scorpion. Rice, ever the realist, isn’t holding her breath: “We’ve had 46 years of the Iranians destabilizing the region, killing Americans.” Her skepticism about Tehran’s willingness to negotiate is a sobering counterpoint to the administration’s optimism.
Rice’s broader point cuts deeper: credibility isn’t a one-and-done deal. “We have to keep establishing that the United States is going to try and shape the international system, not just be a victim of it,” she told Baier. In a world where progressive hand-wringing often paralyzes action, her call for proactive strength resonates.
Rice didn’t mince words about Iran’s regional menace. “This is a now-crippled Iran, and a crippled Iran is good for the region,” she said, pointing to Israel’s parallel successes against Hezbollah and Hamas. Her assessment paints Iran as a paper tiger, weakened by precise, unrelenting pressure.
She doubled down, noting Iran’s 46-year track record of sowing chaos through proxies and terror. “They don’t want peace,” Rice declared, a blunt truth that undercuts naive hopes of a kumbaya moment with Tehran’s regime. Her words are a wake-up call to those still clinging to diplomacy-first fantasies.
The strikes come on the heels of Biden’s “disastrous” Afghanistan withdrawal, a low point Rice referenced as a blow to U.S. standing.
Operation Midnight Hammer, by contrast, signals a return to assertive leadership, a rebuke to the chaos of retreat. It’s a reminder that strength, not apology, shapes the global stage.
Despite the fanfare, the leaked DIA assessment raises valid concerns about the strikes’ true impact. If key nuclear components survived, the mission’s “obliteration” label might be more bravado than fact. Transparency, not hype, will ultimately settle the debate.
