Israel Launches “Rising Lion” Strikes on Iran: Tensions in the Middle East reached a boiling point after Israel launched a coordinated military operation against Iran, dubbed “Rising Lion.” The strikes targeted Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan’s Natanz nuclear facility, as well as strategic locations in Lorestan and Kermanshah. The attacks resulted in powerful explosions, the deaths of top Iranian military officials, and six nuclear scientists.
Iran Suspends Nuclear Talks with the U.S.
Following the attacks, Iran announced that it was suspending nuclear negotiations with the United States. The inclusion of the Natanz nuclear site in Israel’s assault has escalated the diplomatic fallout and raised doubts about the future of the U.S.-Iran deal, which was reportedly nearing an agreement.
Akbaş: “Trump’s Foreign Policy Has Already Collapsed”
Strategist Hakan Akbaş weighed in on the crisis, arguing that these developments show the collapse of U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s renewed leadership.
“Trump’s foreign policy hit a wall within the first six months,” Akbaş said, citing critical setbacks on multiple fronts: the Russia-Ukraine war, stalled Iran talks, and unresolved trade tensions with China.
“Israel Attacked While Trump Was Still Talking Peace”
Akbaş pointed out the contradiction between Trump’s diplomatic messaging and the actions of close ally Israel:
“While Trump was still at the table negotiating with Iran, Israel launched coordinated strikes on seven Iranian targets and killed the country’s second-highest-ranking official. Iran immediately began retaliating. Yet Trump insists talks will resume this weekend—there’s a clear disconnect.”
“Putin Outplayed Trump on Ukraine”
Akbaş also took aim at Trump’s previous claims regarding the Ukraine war:
“Trump said he would end the Ukraine war in 24 hours. He hosted summits, made strong declarations—yet the war has only intensified. Putin played him.”
China Trade Deal: “Nothing on the Table”
Turning to the U.S.-China economic standoff, Akbaş noted that despite high-profile meetings in Geneva and London, no tangible agreement has been reached.
“Trump roared against China, said they robbed us, and launched tariff wars. He later claimed progress had been made, but China responded by imposing six-month licensing requirements on U.S. firms. Strategically, nothing was achieved.”
A Foreign Policy Under Fire
From nuclear diplomacy to great power competition, Hakan Akbaş argues that Trump’s foreign policy is failing across the board. Allies acting unilaterally, adversaries taking advantage, and a lack of concrete results suggest that, despite strong rhetoric, Trump’s approach lacks coherence and direction. As the world watches a volatile Middle East and worsening global crises, Akbaş’s message is clear: “The first six months have been a strategic failure.”
