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Trump launches massive campaign against Iran as diplomatic patience ends

President orders a multi-day operation targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities after repeated refusals to negotiate

President Donald Trump has ordered a massive campaign against Iran designed to last several days, emphasizing the need to confront Tehran’s leadership. Speaking late Thursday night from Mar-a-Lago, Trump called on the Iranian people to reject their oppressive government. “They have refused every opportunity to abandon their nuclear ambitions, and we have had enough,” he said, justifying the strike.

Following the address, Trump is not expected to make further public statements this Saturday. Presidential spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt noted that the president monitored the operation with his national security team, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Before the attack, Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed the “Gang of Eight,” the bipartisan congressional group traditionally informed of sensitive intelligence. Leavitt confirmed that the president and his team will continue to monitor the situation closely, a step likely to ease criticism from legislators concerned about bypassing Congress. The administration has emphasized that the operation is intended to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities rather than engage in a prolonged conflict.

Trump acknowledged the risks of escalation, saying, “You know, when there is a war, there is risk in everything, for better or worse.” Vice President JD Vance also indicated that any operation in Iran would not result in a protracted conflict similar to Iraq or Afghanistan. The president remains confident that air strikes alone can effect change in Tehran, despite historical uncertainties about achieving regime change through aerial power alone. Trump did not specify how Iranian protesters or opponents might remove the current leadership.

In comments to the Washington Post, Trump highlighted his focus on Iranian freedom: “All I want is freedom for the people.” Retired General David Petraeus, speaking to CNN, confirmed that no large-scale U.S. ground forces are planned, noting that any limited presence would be confined to secure areas.

A Pentagon source told Adnkronos that the U.S.-Israel attack was deliberately launched in the morning to surprise Iran’s leadership, just days after promising diplomatic signals. Sara Canals of Cadena Ser noted the operation caught many in the White House off guard, reflecting Trump’s frustration over Iran’s unwillingness to abandon its nuclear program peacefully.

Analysts point to the arrival of the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford off Israel’s coast as a decisive factor enabling the strike. Federico Borsari of the Center for European Policy Analysis said, “The attack, long planned, could only proceed with the deployment of the last American assets in the region, including aerial refueling aircraft and the Gerald Ford carrier group.”

Jacopo Pastorelli of the Atlantic Council explained that the operation demonstrates U.S. strength while countering Chinese influence, noting that Iran exports approximately 90% of its crude oil to China.

Sources indicate Trump’s decision followed weeks of deliberation and ongoing diplomatic efforts, with the final trigger being Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program. Previous negotiation rounds led by Trump’s envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had offered cautious hope, but other advisors, including Senator Lindsey Graham and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pushed for decisive action.

Iranian journalist and Wayne State University professor Fariba Pajooh told Adnkronos, “The Iranians were stalling, trying to exhaust Washington. Trump simply lost patience.” While initially favoring diplomacy to achieve a stronger deal than the Obama-era nuclear agreement, Trump ultimately issued an ultimatum, which expired this Saturday, prompting the launch of the operation.

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