Trump’s ‘Hit Hard, Pull Back’ Strategy Shapes Iran-Israel Conflict
President Donald Trump has once again showcased his signature foreign policy playbook—strike hard, but avoid long-term entanglement. The recent U.S.-led strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, code-named Operation Night Hammer, marks the latest example.
Over the weekend, Trump approved a major military operation targeting three key nuclear facilities in Iran. The U.S. deployed more than 125 aircraft, including B-2 bombers, F-22s, F-35s, and dozens of refueling planes. The mission involved 14 GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs and over 20 Tomahawk missiles, in what Trump later described as a “perfect strike” that “brought everyone together.”
Yet just as quickly as he greenlit the operation, Trump also made clear there would be no further U.S. military involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict. From the White House Situation Room, he phoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and told him it was time for a ceasefire.
“Our military did what needed to be done,” Trump said. While Netanyahu was reportedly unhappy with the decision, he eventually agreed to the ceasefire under U.S. pressure.
The Trump Doctrine: Show of Force Without Prolonged War
Trump’s strategy mirrors past decisions: deliver a powerful blow, declare success, and step back before the U.S. is drawn deeper. Despite his longstanding criticism of U.S. involvement in “forever wars,” Trump has not shied away from showcasing American military might when the moment demands it.
As soon as intelligence revealed an opportunity to cripple Iran’s nuclear program, Trump seized it—and then declared victory before damage assessments were finalized. “The perfect nighttime strike brought everyone together, and the deal was done!” he posted on social media.
White House officials doubled down the next day, stating that the operation forced Iran back to the negotiating table. “The Iranians want peace. And now we have peace,” said one senior official.
A preliminary U.S. intelligence report suggested Iran’s nuclear program was only set back by “a few months,” but Trump claimed the facilities were destroyed and would be set back “decades.”
A Calculated Message to Tehran
Experts say the true success of Operation Night Hammer lies in its strategic messaging. “Iran has been significantly weakened,” said Joel Peters of Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs. “This sends a strong signal.”
Following the strikes, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, engaged directly with Iranian officials. Witkoff reportedly told Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi: “You’ve seen what we can do. We want peace—you should too.”
Trump has long walked a line between urging military restraint and advocating for decisive action to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions. As far back as 2012, he tweeted that Iran’s program “must be stopped by any means necessary.”
He’s also repeatedly criticized previous administrations for costly foreign wars. “Does anyone really think Iraq’s going to be a beautiful democracy where people vote peacefully and the winner steps in to lead?” he said in a 2002 Esquire interview. “Dream on.”
A Legacy of Tactical Strikes
Trump was the first U.S. president in decades not to start a major war, but he did authorize limited, high-profile strikes—most notably the 2020 drone assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. At the time, Soleimani was seen as Iran’s second-most powerful figure after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
That operation brought the two nations to the brink of war, but Iran’s limited missile response and lack of casualties allowed tensions to ease. Trump declared: “We have the most powerful, best-equipped military anywhere in the world.”
Officials now compare the recent strikes to that moment. “Look at what happened after Soleimani in 2020—they retaliated weakly. We’re confident this time will be the same,” a senior White House official said on June 24.
As with Soleimani, Trump appears to be betting that a strong punch followed by restraint will win results—without dragging the U.S. into another prolonged Middle East war.
(Sources: Washington Post, CNN)
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