Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel has destroyed Iran’s nuclear weapons production infrastructure and established durable security zones in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. That declaration of victory now collides directly with the persistent reality of the 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent — sufficient for at least 10 nuclear weapons once further refined — which lies buried beneath rubble at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

The Jewish State fights for survival against a regime that has pledged its annihilation since 1979 and is fully aware that obviating these clear gaps is suicidal. Nevertheless, President Trump’s erratic pronouncements are menacing and confirm why the real purpose of the United States in this war remains opaque and inconsistent. This ambiguity sadly explains why the deployed forces operate without a coherent and serious strategy to secure the Strait of Hormuz beyond standard patrols by the United States Fifth Fleet. Thus, if this war is merely meant to prop up the American defense industry, then it should be stated plainly. But wasting our time trying to sell different parallel realities every eight hours is exhausting.

Before the war, President Trump assumed that confronting the regime would rally universal support; in reality, only Israel stood with him. Now, after delivering real blows, a Vietnam-style retreat would signal something far worse: a willingness to let the mullahs survive, regroup, and later punish hesitant allies—teaching them exactly what insufficient loyalty costs.

This half-measure approach hands the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps precisely the breathing room it requires to consolidate domestic power. The corps already broadcasts a narrative of divine resilience and draws immediate economic and technical assistance from Russia and China. Without decisive pressure, Tehran........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)