Foreign Policy > Iran

Facts Justify President Trump's Actions on Iran

President Trump has faced an unavoidable showdown.

Joseph Ford Cotto | March 18, 2026

President Trump has faced an unavoidable showdown.

Iran gleefully spent almost half a century waging economic and military warfare against the United States.

This horror show cost Americans trillions and killed hundreds of U.S. troops through proxy attacks and direct acts of terror.

From the 1979 oil production collapse that plunged output from 6 million barrels per day to 1.5 million, sending global oil prices from $15 a barrel to $39 per barrel, to the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing that killed 19 Air Force personnel, Iran’s actions were lethal and costly.

Every failed negotiation, every embargo, and every sanction merely highlighted Tehran’s refusal to respect global norms. Operation Epic Fury was not an impulsive strike. It was an overdue, necessary campaign to protect American lives, restore economic stability, and prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Since the opening hours of Operation Epic Fury, the mission has been precise and unambiguous.

The U.S. Armed Forces targeted Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, destroyed naval capabilities, dismantled production facilities, and severed support for terrorist proxies. Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Central Command, emphasized the operation’s unprecedented scope to eliminate Iran’s ability to threaten Americans and allies in the region.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the campaign ensures Iran will never hide behind short-term missile stockpiles or rebuild its navy. Every major military objective has been met with lethal precision and ruthless efficiency.

The U.S. military’s dominance is clear, particularly against an opponent whose explicit foreign policy is the death of America.

The B-52 Stratofortress, a platform in service since 1965, struck Iranian ballistic missile sites and command posts with unmatched effectiveness during the first 100 hours of the operation. Iran’s ability to impact U.S. forces and regional partners is collapsing while American combat power continues to grow.

Iran’s willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz has been countered by pre-existing contingency plans. This demonstrates that claims of unpreparedness, made by CNN, are false.........

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