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TJV Editorial: The Time for Patience Has Ended — Iran Must Be Stopped, Now
The world now stands at a precipice. The IAEA, a body known for its caution and neutrality, has effectively admitted what Israel and the United States have warned for over a decade — Iran is accelerating its path to nuclear weapons capability. This is not a speculative claim. This is a verified conclusion from a UN agency that had, until now, been regarded by Tehran as the most “understanding” and “nonaligned” of international observers. If even the IAEA can no longer turn a blind eye, what excuse do the rest of us have?
The Iranian regime’s defiance is not just rhetorical — it is engineered, calculated, and purposefully escalatory. After five rounds of failed negotiations with the Trump administration — which, to its credit, has enforced a campaign of maximum economic and diplomatic pressure — Iran has made it abundantly clear that uranium enrichment on its own soil is a red line it refuses to cross. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his entourage have effectively said: “We will not give up our right to enrich uranium.” To them, nuclearization is a matter of sovereignty. To the free world, it is a matter of survival.
There is no longer a gray area. The Iranian regime is not interested in compromise, nor in integration with the international community. It is pursuing enrichment not for medical isotopes, but for warheads. It is not defending its borders, but planning regional hegemony. Iran’s strategic aim — in Lebanon, in Syria, in Iraq, and through its terrorist proxies in Gaza and Yemen — is clear: destabilize the region, encircle Israel, and threaten Western interests with impunity.
Israel, for its part, has shown heroic restraint and strategic acumen. Having successfully concluded military operations on other fronts, Jerusalem is now free to refocus its full intelligence and military capabilities on the Iranian threat. As reported across Israeli and international outlets, including the recent quiet dismantling of Iranian air defenses by the IDF in targeted operations, Israel has already begun preparing the ground for what may be an inevitable confrontation. And thanks to the Trump administration’s support, Israel’s weapons stockpiles are full, and its legitimacy to act — diplomatically, morally, and militarily — has never been higher.
It is important to recall that Iran is not merely defying Israel. It is also stonewalling Europe. In recent weeks, even Western European nations — often accused of naivety or appeasement — have increased pressure on Tehran. But Iran has responded not with concessions, but with contempt. The Islamic Republic has rebuffed European negotiators and stalled talks, all while continuing to violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The message is unmistakable: Iran does not want peace. It wants time. Time to finish building the bomb.
And make no mistake — a nuclear Iran is not just an Israeli problem. It is a global catastrophe waiting to happen. A nuclear Iran means Hezbollah with a nuclear umbrella. It means the Houthi rebels in Yemen acting with impunity. It means Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan all living under existential threat. It means American bases across the Middle East becoming instant targets. It means nuclear blackmail — not just in the region, but against the entire Western order.
The time for legitimacy-building has passed. We have exhausted every possible diplomatic avenue. The IAEA’s statement — that Iran is in violation of its obligations — is not just a technical report; it is the final piece of international cover needed for decisive action. As the Sunday talks in Oman approach, both Washington and Jerusalem must ask themselves: what, exactly, is left to negotiate?
President Trump has been consistent and resolute. His red lines are clear: zero uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, and full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear facilities — or military action. This is not saber-rattling. It is a rational posture against a regime that has never responded to reason or morality, but only to pressure and power.
Iran has mocked every attempt at detente. It has lied to inspectors, hidden facilities, and armed its proxies while pretending to negotiate. The only thing Tehran respects is resolve. And the only thing that will protect the free world now is action. Not another round of fruitless dialogue. Not another cleverly worded resolution. Not another concession masked as a compromise.
The choice before us is stark. If we act now, we may still prevent war. If we hesitate — if we wait for the Iranian bomb to become a reality — war is all but certain. But it will be on their terms, not ours.
Israel, more than any other nation, understands the stakes. A nuclear Iran would place six million Jews once again in the crosshairs of genocidal ambition. It would embolden terrorist groups that already chant “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.” It would trigger a regional arms race. And it would shred the credibility of every Western deterrent institution — from NATO to the UN — rendering them impotent in the eyes of rising authoritarian regimes worldwide.
Now, the chessboard is fully set. Iran is surrounded diplomatically. It is cornered economically. And it is isolated militarily. What remains is the final move — the checkmate.
The United States and Israel must not flinch. Sunday’s talks in Oman may produce headlines, but they will not produce hope. Only coordinated, firm, and — if necessary — preemptive action will preserve peace.
As Prime Minister Netanyahu has rightly said: “We will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. Period.”
The world should take him seriously. Because the alternative is unthinkable.
And as President Trump put it best just this week: “We’ll wait and see.”
Let us not wait too long.
Attack in full force now. Let nothing delay or deter you.
As of 8:27 pm EDT: BOOM!
To the extent that Trump stands with Israel he is appreciated. There is no “deal” to negotiate. But Israel cannot have a total or long lasting victory while Trump refuses to use bunker buster bombs.