In a significant development, the United States has aided Israel in thwarting a missile assault from Iran. Correspondents Alex Hogan and Mark Meredith from Fox News delve into the ongoing hostility between Israel and Iran, highlighting the reaction from the U.S. Brent Sadler, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, offers insights on what this means for the future of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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Israel’s targeted attack on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities may provide the Trump administration with an uncommon strategic advantage. Experts conveying their insights to Fox News Digital suggest that the U.S. could now have the leverage to push Iran into a nuclear agreement, something deemed unachievable solely through diplomatic means.
The Israeli military has informed Fox News Digital that the operation in Iran was executed by Israel, yet it was closely coordinated with the United States. Although U.S. military personnel did not directly partake in the attack, defense collaboration was robust throughout the operation. Notably, during Iran’s counterattacks on Friday, U.S. forces played a crucial role in intercepting Iranian missile strikes aimed at Tel Aviv.
“This was an Israeli operation,” an IDF official said, “but we were closely coordinated with the Americans. There was real-time intelligence and continuous contact.”
Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran, on April 29, 2024. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Ultimately, what we want is for the U.S. to say to Iran: ‘Israel struck your nuclear and military targets, avoided civilian infrastructure and didn’t touch the regime. If you now escalate … take into account that we’re in this now, and it’s a different game altogether.’”
He emphasized that the military victory must now be sealed with a political event — ideally, one that drives Iran back to the negotiating table. “The nuclear issue can’t be solved by a single military event, but this creates a solid foundation for a political one. Coordination with the U.S. is absolutely crucial.”
Greenway told Fox News Digital, “Having taken the strike, as the President said, perhaps this does open the door to continued negotiation. There are obviously different circumstances now. Iran has less capacity than it did yesterday — and will have even less tomorrow.
Smoke rises after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025. Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday, with explosions booming across Tehran.
“Each day that passes, every strike that lands, Iran has less to offer in resistance. At some point, I think there’s a good possibility they’ll choose to negotiate.”
The strike also revealed U.S. involvement on the defensive front. As Iran launched missiles toward Israeli cities, U.S. forces helped intercept them — a move officials say demonstrated American commitment without triggering escalation.
“As a practical matter, this is our best collective opportunity to do as much damage to Iran’s nuclear program and to their offensive retaliatory capabilities as possible”, Greenway said. “From a strictly military standpoint, this is a window of opportunity.”
Trump withdrew from the original Iran nuclear deal during his first term, citing its failure to prevent Tehran’s long-term nuclear weapons ambitions. While he has insisted Iran will never be allowed to obtain a bomb, recent reports suggest he may support a revised deal that allows uranium enrichment for civilian purposes.
Golov said the numbers now favor the U.S. if it acts swiftly. “We’ve optimized our numbers and are hitting theirs. Eventually, the Iranians will have to agree to the American proposal — and that proposal should be on the table now.”
