The recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, carried out under President Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office, have provoked global outrage, strategic uncertainty. US Strike on Iran: Strategic and geopolitical failure. What many experts are calling one of the greatest military and public relations failures in recent American history.
Despite the fanfare and claims of operational success, high-resolution satellite imagery, expert analysis, and geopolitical reactions paint a sobering picture: Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains largely intact, its enrichment efforts are accelerating, and its geopolitical alliances are strengthening. Meanwhile, the United States now finds itself increasingly isolated, embroiled in another Middle Eastern conflict, and facing backlash at home and abroad.
The strike and its limited impact
The US deployed six GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs, carried by B-2 stealth bombers, to target three nuclear sites, including the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, located deep within Iran’s Zagros Mountains. While the GBU-57 is designed to penetrate up to 60 metres of reinforced concrete, Fordow is reportedly buried between 80 to 90 metres deep, placing the facility well beyond the bomb’s maximum destructive capability.
Before-and-after images and analyses indicate some damage to ventilation structures and possibly a support hall, but not to the main uranium enrichment hall. Experts agree that at best, the strike has only temporarily taken some components offline. Even US officials have conceded privately that no critical damage was done.
Iran’s Nuclear Program: Unscathed and accelerating
Far from halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the attack appears to have had the opposite effect.
Enrichment efforts are intensifying. Foreign nuclear support is increasing, with reports of multiple countries prepared to aid or even supply Iran with nuclear warheads. The Iranian regime, instead of weakening, has seen a rally-around-the-flag effect, drawing support even from previously apathetic or dissenting citizens.
The political elite in Tehran, led by the Ayatollah, has emerged stronger, more unified, and emboldened.
A geopolitical failure
The strike has turned the tables of global perception.
Israel is under direct attack, with missile barrages rocking cities and panic sweeping through the population. The US is now tangled in a conflict it can neither escalate effectively nor withdraw from without losing face. Trump, once celebrated by some as a ‘president of peace,’ is now seen as having dragged the US into another war.
In the eyes of much of the international community — including traditional allies — the United States is now the aggressor.
Countries like Russia, China, and North Korea have rallied behind Iran, condemning the US action and offering various forms of strategic support.
The energy domino effect: Strait of Hormuz at risk
Should Iran choose to retaliate economically by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the consequences for global energy markets would be devastating.
Oil prices could skyrocket to $130 or even $300 per barrel. Even without a full closure, targeted attacks on US allies’ facilities — such as Israel’s Leviathan and Karish fields — could drive prices up $10–15 more. Iran’s own refining facilities or oil exports are now seen as new pressure points that could trigger a global supply crunch.
The Biden administration would likely be forced to seek a swift de-escalation to stabilise markets and prevent domestic political fallout.
Public and political fallout
The domestic US reaction is no less severe. Trump’s base — which had celebrated his initial non-interventionist posture — is fractured. Many now see the strike as a betrayal of campaign promises for peace, prosperity, and disengagement from foreign wars.
One disillusioned former supporter wrote: “I once backed Trump and hoped for peace. But now, I’ve lost all hope in him.”
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Critics also point to the broader implications.
The world now knows who this war serves — and it’s not American interests. The US acted without provocation from Iran, fuelling narratives that this was a war fought for Israel, not for American security. Germany’s former Chancellor Angela Merkel was quoted saying, “This cannot be compared with Ukraine,” reinforcing the notion that the US acted aggressively, while other global powers are engaged in what they perceive as defensive wars.
What Now?
Iran holds the initiative. It can close the Strait of Hormuz, delivering an economic shock. It may target US military bases across the region. Or it can accelerate its nuclear weapons program, counting on international backing.
Meanwhile, US credibility is weakened. Even with advanced weaponry, it failed to deliver decisive damage. Worse, it amplified the legitimacy and unity of a hostile regime.
The Ayatollah now decides the next move. The world watches anxiously.
A Legacy in Shambles
This strike was supposed to deter. Instead, it backfired. It did not neutralise Iran’s capabilities, nor did it isolate the regime diplomatically. Instead, it:
• Accelerated nuclear enrichment.
• Split the American public.
• Undermined US prestige globally.
The international community is questioning America’s motives, methods, and moral authority. If peace was the promise, this was its betrayal.
And as oil prices rise, alliances shift, and missiles fly, one question looms large: Was it worth it, Mr. President?
