The time for ambiguity is over, and the United States is no longer on the brink of war with Iran — it’s already in the early stages of one by rapidly mobilizing its bombers, aircraft carriers, missile systems, and supplies in the Middle East. While politicians may still be speaking in cautious tones and diplomats cling to the illusion of negotiation, the reality “on the ground” tells a different story: a military strike isn’t just likely — it appears imminent.
The Iranian regime has crossed too many red lines to simply ignore. From orchestrating attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East to using proxies like Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas to destabilize the entire region, Iran has turned the Middle East into its own terror-fueled chessboard. Doing so, it continues to ramp up the “tests” to the U.S. and its allies. It’s even recently publicized in an Iranian newspaper an all-out call to assassinate our President and “shoot Trump in that empty skull.”
For years, Iran has taunted the West while marching toward nuclear capability. Enrichment levels are now approaching weapons-grade — they are reportedly at 60% uranium enrichment, but need 90% for a warhead — and international inspectors have all but lost any meaningful oversight. At this point, pretending Iran isn’t racing toward nuke as fast as possible is willful blindness.
The consequences of inaction are far too great, though. If Iran goes nuclear — as soon as four to six months some say with their new centrifuges in place — the entire balance of power in the Middle East collapses, and America’s credibility goes with it, too.
Meanwhile, U.S. forces are mobilizing — and fast. The United States is sending the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to the Middle East, and it’s making record time already arriving in the Indian Ocean by last published accounts. It will be joining the USS Harry S. Truman and effectively doubling the firepower available there with two of the eleven available aircraft carriers in the Navy now in the Middle East. Air bases are humming with activity. Missile defense systems have been sent. Six B-2 bombers have arrived on an island just out of Iran’s missile reach. These aren’t precautionary measures — they’re the prelude to war.
Here’s a dangerous wildcard, though: In one scenario, Iran may very well act first in a desperate, preemptive gamble that will all but guarantee a swift and overwhelming American air and missile response.
After all, Iran has to know what’s coming, and they may choose to strike first. A massive drone and missile assault on U.S. assets, naval vessels, bases in the region, but more likely Israel itself could be their attempt to catch America off-balance. Of course, a move like that would be suicidal. Such a preemptive Iranian attack would guarantee the very outcome they fear most: immediate and devastating U.S. airstrikes and missiles fired on Iranian command centers, military facilities, arms bunkers, and its nuclear infrastructure. Many military experts say that air strikes will not be the only phase, though, and the situation will eventually require “boots on the ground” at some point too.
There will be no slow build-up if Iran makes that mistake of striking, though. The American build-up is already happening, and the response will be fast, precise, and merciless. Be assured the Pentagon has already war-gamed this thousands of times. Our bombers are ready, our cruise missiles are locked in, our carriers are in-place (almost), and the stars are aligning to demand action.
At home, political winds are shifting. In the wake of a volatile 2024 election, both parties have found rare unity on one point: Iran is a threat that can no longer be ignored. With an unstable global economy and an increasingly aggressive China watching closely, the U.S. cannot afford to look weak. Neither can President Trump, especially after his recent ultimatum to Iran to stop seeking nuclear capabilities or get bombed. A decisive strike against Iran would send a clear message to both our allies and adversaries: the era of American appeasement is over and done.
The Middle East is primed to explode, though; it’s one big powder keg. War is surely coming, whether we choose it or not. It’s seemingly on auto-pilot now.
The only real choice we have at this point is whether we act on our terms or Iran’s. If we wait too long, Tehran may decide to act first. And when they do, it’ll likely be bad for Israel, but they’ll subsequently find out exactly what happens when you challenge America and the full weight of its military power.
This isn’t fear-mongering; this is strategy. The time to strike is now — not after Iran lights the match to the powder keg, but before they can. America didn’t ask for this confrontation, but we cannot avoid it. Delay will only increase the cost in lives and stability, and it’s time to finish what Iran started, but this scenario would be unpopular.
Letting them strike first may be how it all happens. Nonetheless, it will be their last mistake.