Blinken Critiques Trump’s Iran Strikes, But Hopes They Did Maximum Damage

Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized President Trump’s recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling the operation “unwise and unnecessary.” Blinken expressed his concerns in a guest essay for The New York Times, arguing the administration moved too quickly and sidelined diplomatic options that may still have been available.

Despite his critique, Blinken acknowledged the strikes were executed and voiced hope that they achieved significant impact. He referred to the attack as “inflicted maximum damage,” while emphasizing that once decisions are made, one should wish for successful outcomes.

In his essay, Blinken also reflected on President Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). He suggested that dismantling the agreement may have prompted Iran to accelerate its nuclear program—possibly reducing the time needed to build a weapon to mere days or weeks ×—leading Trump to resort to military force.

While Blinken advocated for diplomacy over unilateral action, he admitted that the strikes are now history and deserves cautious optimism regarding their effectiveness. The outcome, he concluded, will be clearer with time and further analysis.

With input from Fox News