The Pentagon has dubbed the offensive "Operation Epic Fury." As Tomahawk cruise missiles struck targets near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump warned civilians to seek shelter, claiming the Iranian government had rejected all opportunities to renounce its nuclear ambitions. This justification has been met with widespread skepticism, as Iranian officials had reportedly offered terms exceeding the 2015 nuclear deal during recent negotiations.
Legal experts and observers, including journalist Jeremy Scahill, have dismissed the characterization of the strikes as "preemptive" as propaganda. The military action bypasses Congressional war powers and faces scrutiny for its legality under international standards, which restrict the use of force to responses against direct armed attacks. The administration’s pivot from public diplomacy to open conflict mirrors the escalatory rhetoric seen prior to the 2003 Iraq war.
Tehran has vowed "crushing retaliation" for the onslaught. Iranian military spokespeople stated they would target any regional base facilitating the joint US-Israeli operation, while reports from the Associated Press confirm that drone and missile strikes have already targeted northern Israel. The Iranian foreign ministry has signaled to Iraq that US military installations in the region are now active targets in the escalating conflict.
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