What happens next in the Middle East is up to Iran. The Iranians can either choose diplomacy or destruction. Either way, the end result must be an absolute end to the rogue regime’s ability to threaten the world with nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump continues to offer Iran an opportunity to resume negotiations, even as it exchanges missile fire with Israel, which launched an aerial barrage on Iranian military and nuclear targets, as well as some of its oil producing facilities. Several of its military leaders and scientists have been killed.

Israel began this war without the approval of it’s main ally, the United States. But now that it’s started, only the U.S. can bring this chapter of the Middle East conflict to an acceptable conclusion, barring an agreement by Iran to voluntarily disarm.

Israel has made its objective clear: To dismantle Iran’s nuclear enrichment program and permanently end its ability to produce and deliver a nuclear bomb.

For President Donald Trump, this marks the most serious national security threat he’s faced since North Korea’s saber rattling during his first term. The gravity of the situation was made evident by Trump’s unprecedented departure from the G-7 summit of world leaders in Canada this week. He returned to Washington and immediately called together his national security team. As he left, the president assured the world Iran would never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

The way to make good on that promise is to ensure all enrichment of nuclear material inside Iran’s borders is ended. The U.S. and its allies have previously sought to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions by slowing the progression of weapons grade enrichment. That hasn’t worked and won’t. The Iranians can’t be trusted to honor their commitments. Last Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Association reported for the first time in 20 years Iran has restarted progression toward weapons grade enrichment.

Fordo, Iran’s main nuclear fuel enrichment plant, is built deeply into a mountain — out of reach of Israel’s arsenal of missiles. The only weapon believed capable of penetrating and collapsing the mountain is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or the GBU-57, which weighs 30,000 pounds and can only be delivered by heavy-duty B-2 Spirit bombers. It was designed and built just for this purpose.

Israel doesn’t have the so-called “bunker-buster” bombs, or an aircraft large enough to carry them. The U.S. Air Force does.

And so, the United States may soon have to decide if it is willing to deploy its weapons to destroy the Fordo centrifuges.

Hawks among Trump’s Republican Party, most notably South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, are urging the president to use the bunker-busters if necessary. Anti-interventionists, who have as their most influential Trump pal and far-right talker Tucker Carlson, are demanding Trump honor his campaign promise to not intervene in wars started by other countries.

The risks or intervention for the U.S. are considerable — mainly being drawn into yet another prolonged conflict in a part of the world that has already drained too many American lives and resources.

The risk of inaction is also great. This is a rare opportunity to put an end to Iran’s role as an international exporter of terror. If Israel fails to defang Iran, the Iranians can be counted on to resume their nuclear quest with renewed determination to use it.

A nuclear-armed Iran would further destabilize the Middle East, and likely beyond.

The U.S. doesn’t have to commit to involvement in Iran further than the destruction of Fordo. If Trump decides to engage, he must make it clear the commitment is to that single mission.

At the pace Israel is destroying Iran’s military infrastructure, the threat of a drawn out operation appear at least to be greatly diminished.

Many of the Gulf nations have expressed quiet support for Israel’s initiatives against Iran, recognizing that neutralizing Iran’s influence in the region serves their interests as well.

Iran has demonstrated over decades of failed diplomacy it will not abandon its quest for nuclear capability. As long as the centrifuges at Fordo are still spinning, they are not likely to ever do so.

This is a moment of opportunity for neutralizing one of the most dangerous nations on earth. Acting carries risk for the United States. Not acting may come with long-term regret.

_____

©2025 www.detroitnews.com. Visit at detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.