By Emmanuel Bobby
A last-ditch effort to prevent war unfolded Thursday in Geneva, where Trump administration officials met with Iranian representatives and delivered a blunt message: Iran must not take the steps necessary to build a nuclear weapon.
The talks quickly unraveled.
According to a senior administration official, the U.S. delegation insisted that Iran suspend uranium enrichment for the next 10 years. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, rejected the demand, arguing that Tehran has an “inalienable right” to enrich uranium.
Steve Witkoff, a member of the U.S. delegation, responded that the United States has an “inalienable right” to stop Iran from developing a bomb. The exchange grew heated, with Araghchi reportedly raising his voice. At one point, Witkoff said, “If you prefer, I can leave.”
After the meeting, U.S. officials briefed President Donald Trump. By Saturday morning, the diplomatic window had closed.
“Major Combat Operations” Begin
In a video posted at 2:30 a.m. ET Saturday, Trump announced that “major combat operations” against Iran had begun.
The phrase echoed former President George W. Bush’s infamous 2003 declaration aboard an aircraft carrier that major combat operations in Iraq had ended under a “Mission Accomplished” banner. More than two decades later, another American president was launching a new military campaign in the Middle East.
Trump’s decision followed months of negotiations that left him frustrated and doubtful a diplomatic breakthrough was possible. In a brief phone interview Sunday, he explained his reasoning.
“They weren’t willing to stop their nuclear research,” Trump said. “They weren’t willing to say they will not have a nuclear weapon. Very simple.”
Despite building his political brand on opposition to “endless wars,” Trump has long maintained that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon. In his recent address to Congress, he warned that Iran could “soon” possess missiles capable of reaching the United States.
Administration officials also cited intelligence suggesting Iran might launch a pre-emptive strike on American forces in the region if Washington stood down.
A War of Choice — and Its Risks
Trump had expressed private doubts in the days leading up to the strikes. According to a national security official, he questioned whether military plans would produce the durable outcome he sought and worried about what might follow.
Still, he issued Tehran a 10-to-15-day deadline in February to agree to a deal, warning that “really bad things” would happen otherwise.
When no agreement materialized, the military option moved forward.
The CIA had reportedly assessed that even if Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, were killed, he could be replaced by equally hard-line figures within the regime. Khamenei was killed in the initial assault. It remains unclear who will consolidate power in Tehran.
Trump has suggested he hopes the Iranian people might rise up against the ruling regime. However, analysts caution that regime change is unpredictable and could produce unintended consequences.
Former national security adviser John Bolton warned that short-term strikes may not be enough to fundamentally alter Iran’s leadership. “His lack of forward, strategic planning could be a problem here,” Bolton said.
In contrast, Sen. Lindsey Graham said the administration is prepared for additional action if necessary. “They still believe Iran is dangerous and are closely monitoring the situation,” Graham said.
Military Buildup and “Operation Epic Fury”
The collapse in Geneva followed months of pressure that combined diplomacy with military escalation.
Negotiators met in Oman and Geneva in February, while the U.S. quietly increased its regional military presence. Trump ordered the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to redeploy to the Middle East, signaling readiness for confrontation.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also told Congress that U.S. economic pressure had intentionally triggered a currency crisis inside Iran, contributing to inflation and unrest.
By early Saturday, “Operation Epic Fury” was underway.
The U.S. deployed B-2 stealth bombers, fighter jets, missiles and other systems in coordinated strikes targeting Iran’s navy, missile infrastructure, air defenses and command centers. Intelligence indicated that Khamenei would be meeting with senior deputies that morning, prompting planners to shift the timing to maximize the likelihood of eliminating top leadership.
Trump later said the operation was “ahead of schedule,” noting the killing of dozens of senior Iranian figures.
Regional Fallout
The strikes triggered immediate retaliation. Iranian missiles targeted U.S. bases and Israel. Air raid sirens sounded across Israeli cities, and explosions rocked central Tehran.
Airlines canceled more than 1,500 flights bound for the Middle East as the region braced for escalation.
In one counterstrike in Kuwait, three U.S. service members were killed and five injured, according to American officials.
Appearing in a video Sunday afternoon, Trump acknowledged the toll.
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” he said. “That’s the way it is.”
The president has indicated he hopes the conflict will be swift, telling a British newspaper that it could conclude within weeks. But history looms large over any Middle East war.
More than 4,500 U.S. service members died in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, a conflict that reshaped American politics and foreign policy for a generation.
Now, with Iran’s leadership decapitated and regional tensions soaring, the trajectory of Trump’s war — and its consequences for the Middle East — remain uncertain.
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