Opinion

President Trump’s Iran warning is serious — but Americans need the full facts

The Trump administration's Iran nuclear claims need hard evidence before any military action begins against Tehran

By Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, (ret.) Fox News

Published February 25, 2026 9:00am EST

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Trump weighing strike options against Iran

Dan Hoffman, former CIA station chief, discusses President Trump's considerations for military strikes against Iran.

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Last summer, when the United States and Israel struck Iran’s nuclear facilitiesI, I argued the operation was deliberate — not reckless. The June 2025 strikes on Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan were designed to deny Tehran a near-term breakout capability and restore deterrence without plunging America into another open-ended Middle East war.

The purpose was clear: disrupt the program, buy time and strengthen Washington’s leverage.

Subsequent intelligence reporting suggested the damage was significant, though not permanent. Iran’s nuclear program was set back — not eliminated. That distinction mattered then, and it matters even more now.

Today, we find ourselves at another critical moment.

President Donald Trump has surged substantial American military power into the Persian Gulf — carrier strike groups, fighter aircraft and support assets — amid renewed nuclear tensions. This is not symbolic. It is a serious deterrent posture designed to protect American forces and signal resolve to Tehran.

That buildup is legitimate. It reinforces credibility. It reduces the risk of miscalculation.

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But alongside this posture, we are now hearing dramatic claims that Iran could........

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