June 14, 2025 — A new chapter of Middle Eastern conflict has erupted following Israel’s surprise military attack on Iran on June 12, a move that has triggered regional panic and international condemnation. The initial airstrike targeted Iranian military infrastructure near Isfahan.
Iran responded swiftly, launching a barrage of missiles at Israel, escalating fears of a full-blown war between the two nations.
As the world reels from the sudden outbreak of hostilities, U.S. President, Donald Trump is facing intense scrutiny for his role in the unfolding crisis. While Trump has publicly claimed he was engaged in peaceful denuclearization talks with Iran, it was confirmed that he was aware of Israel’s planned attack under the pretext of halting Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons development. Despite knowing the operation was imminent, Trump neither warned Iran nor clarified whether he gave the green light to Israel.
This has cast a shadow over the scheduled U.S.-Iran denuclearization meeting in Oman, set for this Sunday. Analysts fear the talks may collapse entirely, as Iran questions the sincerity of American diplomacy in the wake of what they call a “betrayal cloaked in negotiation.”
Public sentiment in the United States is also shifting. Support for Israel, once a political constant across party lines, has noticeably declined among the American populace, especially within Trump’s own political base. One of the cornerstones of Trump’s victory was his “America First” doctrine, a promise not to entangle the U.S. in foreign wars. Now, many of his supporters feel betrayed.
Tucker Carlson, a leading voice in the MAGA movement, has strongly condemned Israel’s actions and called on the U.S. government to stay out of what he termed “Netanyahu’s war-hungry campaign.” His sentiments are echoed by Senator Rand Paul, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, and other prominent figures on the American Right.
Even Charlie Kirk, a staunch supporter of Israel and influential conservative activist, broke ranks this week. Speaking on his podcast, Kirk warned, “I can tell you right now, our MAGA base does not want a war at all whatsoever. They do not want US involvement. They do not want the United States to be engaged in this.”
Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that the strike was necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, Trump’s former Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, testified before Congress in March that Iran is not actively building a nuclear weapon. “The U.S. intelligence community continues to assess that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear bomb,” Gabbard stated under oath.
Critics argue that even if Iran were to pursue such capabilities, it does not justify Israel acting unilaterally. “Who gave Netanyahu the global license to play world police?” asked one Middle East analyst. “If the U.S. isn’t on board, Israel is acting outside the international norm.”
As Iran retaliates and the risk of a regional war intensifies, many believe Netanyahu is attempting to drag the United States into a direct conflict, leveraging long-standing U.S.-Israel relations and lobbying power in Washington.
With the Oman peace talks hanging by a thread and public distrust growing, this crisis is rapidly becoming not just a Middle Eastern conflict—but a test of American foreign policy integrity, Trump’s legacy, and global diplomatic credibility.
Bashir LuCas Samson Lukman
