US-Israel Strikes on Iran Mark Significant Moment, Says Rice
Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, remarked that the recent airstrikes by the US and Israel targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities represent a pivotal moment for the Middle East and a reaffirmation of America’s standing globally.
On Thursday, the US reported on the operations conducted over the weekend, which struck three Iranian nuclear sites, praising the effectiveness of US and Israeli forces.
Rice stated, “While we can’t quantify the exact extent of the damage to Iran’s program yet, it seems clear that significant harm was done, particularly in areas where developing nuclear weapons will be challenging, at least for the foreseeable future.”
Early Sunday, US B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles executed strikes in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan in Iran as part of what was termed Operation Midnight Hammer.
The B-2 bomber made a non-stop journey of 37 hours from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, delivering two bombs weighing 12 tons at Natanz.
Additionally, over 20 cruise missiles were fired from US submarines during the operation.
The administration under Trump has sustained that, despite ongoing inquiries about the whereabouts of Iran’s abundant uranium supply, the goal of neutralizing Iran’s nuclear program has been met with success.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegses asserted during a Thursday press conference that, “President Trump orchestrated one of the most intricate and covert military operations in history, resulting in an overwhelming success, concluding the conflict and securing a ceasefire after 12 days of warfare.”
Rice expressed to Fox News anchor Brett Beyer her belief that the US strike had substantially hindered Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
However, she also criticized Trump for revealing a preliminary assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency that described a “low confidence” in the destruction of core elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
“When you consider what Israel has achieved with Hezbollah and what Hamas is capable of, it’s clear that the important work on Iranian military facilities is crucial. A weakened Iran is beneficial for the entire region,” she concluded.
The Trump administration is advocating for diplomatic discussions with Iran following Operation Hammer, although Rice stressed that the Iranian leadership shows little interest in pursuing peace.
“For 46 years, Iran has destabilized the region and harmed Americans. We’ve faced threats from their proxies against Israel and other nations in the Middle East. So, their desire for peace is questionable,” she stated.
A former official from the Bush administration commented that the US action has bolstered American credibility on the world stage, especially in the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Rice added, “Building reliability isn’t a one-time effort; it’s an ongoing process. We need to demonstrate that the US is not just a victim but also a key player in forming an international system. What transpired recently has positively impacted America’s credibility.”
