A potential US strike on a major Iranian nuclear facility may force Moscow to reconsider its approach to the war in Ukraine, says Herman Pirchner, president of the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC), UkrInform reports.
Trump has announced he will decide within the next two weeks whether the US will directly hit Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Now, the US president faces two choices:
- to completely destroy Iran’s nuclear efforts, which threaten global security, but could contradict his previous promises to avoid war during his presidency,
- to hope negotiations might lead Iran to halt its nuclear program. This diplomatic option carries a risk of Iran’s retaliation and an even bigger war
Pirchner emphasizes that such a decision could impact Moscow’s calculus, as they have yet to see a firm response from the Trump administration.
According to the expert, if Washington demonstrates resolve in the Middle East, the Kremlin may begin to worry that “a similar response could eventually be applied to Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
Russia has called for an end to the war against Iran, strongly urging de-escalation. Tehran has been helping Moscow since 2022 to wage a war against Ukraine by supplying thousands of kamikaze drones. Both Iran and Russia use terror against civilians as the central part of their military campaigns.
Pirchner also expresses confidence that a new sanctions bill targeting Russia, one with significantly tougher measures, will eventually be passed by the US Congress. He notes that over 80 senators already support the legislation. The main hurdle, he says, lies in the House of Representatives, where progress depends on Speaker Mike Johnson.
“I believe that if the bill passes the Senate, it will pass the House as well,” Pirchner continues.
Despite uncertainty in US foreign policy and reluctance from parts of Europe, Pirchner remains optimistic: Ukraine still has enough weaponry to hold the line. But the true turning point, he suggests, may come when internal instability begins to erode Russia from within.