Fox News senior strategic analyst Ret. Gen. Jack Keane discusses Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and whether the United States will enter the conflict on 'The Story.'

The simmering conflict between Israel and Iran is more than a geopolitical flashpoint—it reflects a historical rivalry stretching back nearly 2,500 years. When the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BCE, it issued a decree allowing Jewish captives to return and rebuild Jerusalem’s temple. Though that act was viewed as benevolent, it also placed Persia at the center of the region’s civilizational balance. Since then, Persia and Israel have frequently occupied opposing poles of power in the Middle East.

Today, that long arc has reached a perilous apex. A direct Israel–Iran confrontation is underway, and President Trump, appears poised to commit U.S. forces. Bomber task forces and carrier groups are moving into position, and speculation is mounting that America will launch a strike against Fordow—Iran’s most secure nuclear facility. If such a strike occurs, it must be precise and restrained. While Iran’s nuclear threat must be blunted, America’s strategic focus must remain fixed on its greatest rival: China.

WHY US MUST DESTROY IRAN'S FORDOW NUCLEAR FACILITY NOW

Ancient Identity, Modern Stakes

Iran’s self-perception is steeped in its Persian heritage—a deep cultural identity that sees itself not only as a nation but as a civilizational anchor of the region. Though the Islamic Republic has distanced itself from pre-Islamic monarchy, it still invokes the legacy of Persian greatness. This fuels a deeply rooted view that Iran—not the Arab world or the West—is the rightful power broker of the Middle East.

That mindset helps........

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