The Washington Times
Sen. Rick Scott
July 8, 2025

For 40 years, American politicians debated Iran’s nuclear threat while Tehran moved closer to developing a nuclear weapon. Previous administrations talked, negotiated and stood idly by while Iran exploited every opportunity and weakness to advance its nuclear program. President Joe Biden even loosened sanctions to fuel the regime’s terror.

President Trump is once again proving he is no weak Mr. Biden. Iran saw that firsthand last month when Mr. Trump succeeded where previous administrations failed. He showed us what peace through strength looks like.

Mr. Trump took necessary and decisive action with a targeted military action against Iran’s nuclear capabilities, taking out the nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz. Our military completed a mission that no other military force could. Our courageous servicemen and -women delivered a debilitating blow to Iran’s weapons of destruction and hate, and with it, delivered a chance for peace in Israel and the Middle East. I thank God for their service and their patriotism.

The president’s courageous action was not without cause or warning. The Iranian regime is evil — its leaders shout “Death to America” and are the number-one state sponsor of terrorism. The regime backs terrorist groups like Hamas, which attacks our allies, has killed and held hostage Americans and Israelis in Gaza and has killed and harmed American soldiers. We cannot sleep on the evil this regime is capable of, and we sure as hell cannot ignore the clear threat it poses as it attempt to build a nuclear weapon to use against us.

Mr. Trump knows this. He has been and continues to be extremely clear that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon to use against the U.S., our ally Israel or the world — and that he will take necessary actions to prevent this evil from occurring.

On June 12, the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation promises. This unprecedented action by the world’s nuclear watchdog confirmed that Tehran’s program had moved beyond legitimate civilian purposes and into weapons development, something our intelligence has indiscriminately shown. Iran was in possession of 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to a level that could be further enriched and weaponized into ten nuclear weapons within weeks. That wasn’t going to go unnoticed by this administration.

Mr. Trump gave Iran the opportunity to come to the table. He set clear expectations and provided Iran a path for diplomacy and peace, and he was clear about the consequences of Iran continuing to pursue its nuclear ambitions and attacks on our ally, Israel. Iran chose to reject the path to peace, and its leaders learned that Mr. Trump is a man of his word and will do what it takes to ensure the safety of our nation and pursue peace through strength.

These brave actions confirmed decades of strategic thinking about deterrence. After our attack, Iran chose survival over nuclear ambitions because when the United States projects decisive strength and follows through when our red lines are crossed, our adversaries back down.

Before the strike, Mr. Trump worked with Israel to ensure that Iran was in a uniquely vulnerable position. Iran’s defenses were weakened by an Israel tired of its citizens being murdered by Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist groups. Israel tactically struck back at its aggressor, destroying Iran’s proxies and much of Iran’s military assets, degrading Iranian air defenses and providing Mr. Trump and the U.S. the opportunity to do what only they could do: destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities that were fortified deep under the mountains.

This demonstration of America’s military superiority sent a clear message to the region and to the world: The U.S. will follow through and eliminate threats through force when necessary. If tested, I do not doubt that Mr. Trump will again take necessary action in pursuit of peace.

With Operation Midnight Hammer, Mr. Trump solidified the United States’ position as a global force, and he solidified his place as the most pro-America, pro-peace and pro-Israel president our nation has ever seen. He sent a clear rejection of the appeasement of years past, and the world is safer for it.

The global community has already begun to recognize this decision as a pivotal one made by our commander in chief to bring peace to the region and stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. More will soon recognize exactly how strategic it was to protect American security now and for decades to come. With that recognition will come the Nobel Peace Prize for our great, courageous American president, Donald J. Trump.

• Rick Scott is Florida’s senior U.S. senator. He serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee and is a former governor of Florida.