6. Ripple effects could be massive.

- Retaliation via proxies or cyber
- Threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz
- Fractured NATO/EU unity
- No clear endgame for the U.S.

This wasn’t strategic. It was reactive, risky, and short-sighted.

#Iran #USForeignPolicy #Geopolitics

5. Bad timing: Ukraine loses the spotlight.

With a major Russian offensive expected this summer, the West’s attention is now split. Iran benefits. Russia benefits. The strategic distraction couldn’t have come at a worse time.

4. Even if they had nukes, this isn’t the solution.

We likely didn’t destroy everything, and now they feel more threatened than ever. That makes them more—not less—likely to accelerate nuclear ambitions.

3. No proof of nukes—yet.

Iran’s nuclear status is still uncertain. That’s why international bodies like the IAEA and UN exist. We should’ve insisted on inspections—not jumped straight to airstrikes.

2. We had leverage—and we threw it away.

The Iranian regime is deeply unpopular at home. Instead of fueling nationalist backlash, we could’ve used diplomacy, covert support, and information ops to empower pro-reform voices.

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