Shortly after launching airstrikes on Iran, Donald Trump took to his platform of choice to declare, "Now Is The Time For Peace." The irony should not be lost on anyone paying attention.
The Hypocrisy of Trump’s Peace Rhetoric
Trump’s brand of diplomacy is theatre. He struck Iranian targets without warning, then asked for calm. But history shows religious hardliners rarely respond to violence with submission. Iran's leadership thrives on external threats. Military aggression only serves to entrench them further and rally support against the "Great Satan."
Obama’s JCPOA Was Working
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) wasn’t perfect, but it was effective. Iran agreed to cut its uranium stockpile by 98%, limit enrichment to 3.67% (far below weapons-grade), and dismantle thousands of centrifuges. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed compliance repeatedly between 2015 and 2018. Daily inspections ensured transparency.
Yet in 2018, Trump unilaterally tore up the deal, despite no evidence of Iran breaching it. He called it "the worst deal ever negotiated," but had nothing to replace it with. Predictably, Iran resumed higher-level enrichment and reduced IAEA access. Trump created the very crisis he claimed to solve.
Was Iran Close to a Nuclear Weapon?
No, not at the time Trump withdrew. US and Israeli intelligence assessments, IAEA reports, and even Netanyahu’s own 2018 "nuclear archive" presentation all confirmed Iran had halted its weapons programme in 2003 and had not restarted it.
The CIA’s National Intelligence Estimates (2007 & 2012) concluded Iran had the technical knowledge but was not building a bomb. Trump's withdrawal lifted the lid on the pressure cooker.
Who Benefited? Russia.
While the West was distracted by Iran, Putin gained breathing room. Escalating tensions in the Middle East pushed Ukraine off the front pages, strained NATO unity, and drove oil prices higher – all favourable outcomes for the Kremlin.
This wasn’t the first time Trump’s actions curiously aligned with Russian interests. He'd previously delayed aid to Ukraine, questioned NATO's value, and undermined US intelligence. If Trump isn't a Russian asset, he might as well be.
Bypassing Democracy
Worse, Trump launched the strikes without Congressional approval. In a functioning democracy, war powers lie with the legislature. Trump once again acted like a strongman, not a statesman. It's a pattern: rule by decree, not by debate.
Crypto and Influence?
Layer in the bizarre detail that Trump profits from a meme cryptocurrency ($TRUMP) and questions emerge. Could foreign entities theoretically use these tokens to influence him? Israel is one of the few nations openly backing his return – would they benefit from US strikes on Iran? It’s speculative, but troubling.
Blowback Is Inevitable
The idea that the US can strike without consequence is dangerously naive. History tells us that military aggression breeds retaliation, not submission. From 9/11 (partly motivated by the US presence in the Middle East) to the rise of groups like ISIS, unintended consequences have defined American interventions abroad.
Trump's strikes on Iran all but guarantee a long-term cycle of revenge. Not just in direct military terms — but through cyberattacks, terrorism, proxy wars, and asymmetrical strikes targeting US allies and civilians.
As of now, America has likely put a target on its back for decades to come. Iranian hardliners — and those they influence across the region — won’t forget this. They’ll wait. They’ll build alliances. And they’ll retaliate when least expected.
Ordinary Americans, both at home and abroad, may face the consequences of this decision long after Trump has left the stage. Just like post-Iraq and post-Afghanistan, the damage will outlast the politician who caused it.
Gary’s Soapbox Comment: Trump talks peace while dropping bombs, tears up agreements that were working, and gives Russia a smokescreen. He governs by impulse, not principle. And the world is more dangerous for it.
If it acts like a dictator, then it is a dictator. The military is acting at the direction of the President, not Congress. And when Congress is no longer in charge of authorising war, democracy itself is under threat. Trump talks peace while dropping bombs, tears up agreements that were working, and gives Russia a smokescreen. He governs by impulse, not principle. And the world is more dangerous for it.
