US attack on Iran risks sparking wider, deadlier conflict

America’s shock bombing raid on Iran has signalled the beginning of an unpredictable new political era. Here’s what could happen next.

America’s 2.30am bombing raid on Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities was designed to bring an end to the regime’s nuclear aspirations and silence decades of threats from Tehran calling for “death to America”.

Whether intentional or not, it will also help the President silence the detractors who had labelled him TACO Trump – an acronym for Trump Always Chickens Out.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned America to stay out of the conflict. Picture: AFP

In a strategic fake out, the United States President led the world to believe he was giving Iran one last chance to come to the negotiating table, saying he was still hoping for peace.

As Mr Trump was calling for diplomacy, American stealth bombers were already en route to the Middle East armed with 30,000 pound “bunker buster” bombs that were dropped on the regime’s most critical uranium enrichment sites in the early hours of Sunday local time.

In an uncharacteristically short and succinct address to the nation, Mr Trump warned the bombing raids would be just the beginning if Iran didn’t immediately back down.

“Iran the bullying of the Middle East must now make peace,” he said.

“If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.

“For 40 years, Iran has been saying, death to America, death to Israel.”

The strike ushers in an unpredictable new era of global politics and no one knows how Iran, its military allies like Hezbollah and the Houthis, or nations like Russia and China will react.

The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant in central Iran has been hit by the US. Picture: AFP

The US President is banking on a reaction that sees Tehran arrive at the negotiation table cap in hand to submit to a complete surrender and a commitment to abandon its nuclear weapon aspirations.

He despises America’s involvement in costly and deadly “forever wars” like Iraq and Afghanistan and will not want to be dragged into a lengthy conflict that could deliver a severe hit to America’s economy, and on his own approval ratings.

In his announcement of the attack, Mr Trump wrote in capital letters: “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE”. He followed it up with another message warning Iran “must now agree to end this war”.

Iran has a lengthy history of animosity and distrust toward to the United States and this attack will only serve to deepen that divide.

The White House is illuminated after news of the bombings. Picture: AP

In the streets of Tehran this week, citizens were recorded at rallies chanting “death to Israel and America”.

Prior to the US strikes, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned America to stay out of the conflict.

“Let the Americans know that the Iranian nation is not one to surrender, and any military intervention on their part will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage,” he said.

His defence minister threatened retaliation against American troops, saying “all US bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them”.

Defence experts also believe the regime could also activate sleeper cells to attack Western targets, including inside the United States.

The US strikes notably did not include the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader – a thought Mr Trump had publicly mused about.

That possibility must surely be one both Mr Trump and Mr Khamenei have in their minds as the world waits to see what happens next.

Originally published as US attack on Iran risks sparking wider, deadlier conflict