Foreign Policy > Operation Epic Fury

Our War against Iran Makes Sense

We have been tested by the ferocious Iranian terror machine for 46 years. Now we have the resolve to defeat it.

E. Jeffrey Ludwig | June 14, 2026

On June 21, 2025, the U.S. bombed three facilities in Iran dedicated to nuclear enrichment, which enrichment would have allowed Iran to move in a short time to making nine nuclear bombs.  This was a terrific mission that took more than 35 hours of flight time, and Iran’s three facilities deep in the mountains were decimated.  Despite the success of the bombing in destroying these sites, satellite photos “showed trucks leaving Iran’s Fordow site just before U.S. airstrikes” said to be carrying enriched uranium.  “Now, over 400kg of highly enriched uranium is unaccounted for. ... [The] U.S. calls the strikes a success — but where is the uranium?”

Subsequently, Pres. Trump initiated Operation Epic Fury in March 2026.  At that point in time, he announced that the air strikes against Iran had four purposes:

To destroy Iran’s missile capabilities.

To destroy Iran’s navy.

To ensure that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon.

To ensure that the Iranian regime “cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”

The same website that lists President Trump’s objectives for these attacks also lists statements by a variety of military leaders as well as by our secretary of War and secretary of State.

This writer was particularly gripped by the statement of purpose for our attack made by Admiral Brad Cooper: “Our military in the Middle East is undertaking an unprecedented operation to eliminate Iran’s ability to threaten Americans, as they’ve been doing for nearly half a century.”

This statement carries a broader vision of the military........

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