WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump expressed certainty his big gamble to directly assist the Israelis delivered a knockout blow to Iran's nuclear program — even as many supporters and detractors alike were warning that U.S. military action could draw the United States into an expansive regional conflict.
Trump, in brief remarks to the nation on Saturday evening from the White House, said the U.S. strikes ''obliterated'' three critical Iranian enrichment facilities and ''the bully of the Middle East must now make peace.''
But it's a risky moment for Trump, who has belittled his predecessors for tying up America in ''stupid wars" and has repeatedly said he was determined to keep the U.S. and the Middle East from another expansive conflict.
''There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," Trump said. He added, ''If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill."
The U.S. has struggled for decades to deal with the threat posed by Iran and its proxies.
Iran-backed groups carried out the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut, the Beirut barracks bombing that same year and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing. And Iranian-backed militias were responsible for hundreds of Americans killed during the U.S. war in Iraq.
Trump took note of the long history of animus, and took credit for taking action.
''For 40 years, Iran has been saying death to America. Death to Israel. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs. That was their specialty,'' Trump said. ''I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue."