Why a US Strike on Iran

From Venezuela to Iran, Trump has attacked countries in the past even when diplomacy appeared to be making progress.

Donald Trump and advisors announce action against Venezuel
US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on January 3, 2025, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on. [Alex Brandon/AP Photo

After days of threatening to strike Iran in support of protesters challenging the government in Tehran, US President Donald Trump appeared to dial back his rhetoric on Wednesday evening.

Trump stated that the killings in Iran had stopped and added that Tehran had assured his administration that arrested protesters would not be executed.

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While Trump did not explicitly rule out an attack on Iran, he effectively undermined the stated rationale for one.

Yet, as Trump nears the completion of his first year back in office, his track record suggests the possibility of US military strikes against Iran in the coming days remains a tangible threat.

Here’s a closer look:

The Abduction of Maduro – Amid Diplomacy and Limited Strikes
Since August, the US had positioned its largest military deployment in the Caribbean Sea in decades.

The US military bombed more than 30 boats it claimed—without providing evidence—were carrying drugs to the United States, killing over 100 people. For months, Trump and his team accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading large-scale narcotics smuggling operations, again without presenting proof. During the boat bombings, Trump even suggested the US might strike targets on Venezuelan soil.

However, in late November, Trump revealed to reporters that he had spoken with the Venezuelan leader. Days later, the call was confirmed by Maduro himself, who described it as “cordial.”

The US then struck what Trump called a docking facility for alleged drug boats in Venezuela. Subsequently, on January 1, Maduro extended an olive branch, expressing openness to talks with Washington on drug trafficking and even on facilitating US access to oil. Trump seemed to be getting what he ostensibly wanted: access to Venezuelan oil and a curb on drug trafficking from the country.

Yet, only hours later, US forces targeted the capital, abducting Maduro and his wife on narcotics trafficking charges and transporting them to the United States.

semananews.com