US and Israel Strike Iran as Trump Calls for Overthrow of Regime

WASHINGTON — The United States and Israel have launched a joint military operation against Iran, with President Donald Trump warning that the offensive aims for more than just a limited strike.

In an eight-minute address delivered shortly after the first bombs fell, Trump demanded the surrender of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He warned that Iranian military forces, missile systems, and naval assets would be "smashed" if the group does not capitulate.

Trump also called on Iran’s ethnic minority groups to rise up and topple the current regime.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed his country’s involvement in the campaign, stating the coordinated effort is designed to "remove an existential threat."

The military action follows recent negotiations between Washington and Tehran regarding limits on uranium enrichment.

The strikes were reportedly launched with little consultation with the U.S. Congress or the public. The move marks a significant departure from Trump’s previous campaign promises to end American involvement in foreign wars.

Donald Trump’s sudden pivot from an "end endless wars" candidate to a wartime president appears to be driven by domestic political survival rather than any imminent threat from Iran. The recent offensive, framed as a push for regime change, marks a stark contradiction to the isolationist rhetoric that served as a cornerstone of his election platform.

The launch of hostilities just ten days after the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" suggests the body may be little more than a vehicle for the administration to consolidate executive power and bypass traditional multilateral frameworks, such as the United Nations. Initially presented as a diplomatic pathway for Gaza, the Board has been effectively transformed into a coalition for a conflict that few of its members ostensibly want, leaving international partners in the position of reluctant accomplices.

Policy analysts point to a series of domestic crises as the likely catalysts for this escalation. Faced with sagging approval ratings ahead of the midterm elections, a significant Supreme Court defeat regarding his executive authority to unilaterally impose tariffs, and intensifying scrutiny over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the president is under immense pressure. In this context, a foreign conflict serves as a classic "rally 'round the flag" distraction—a tactical maneuver to pivot public discourse away from legal and political vulnerabilities at home.

Ultimately, this shift underscores a foreign policy defined by volatility. It reinforces the view that the administration's global strategy remains subservient to the president’s immediate domestic interests, making U.S. engagement increasingly unpredictable for both allies and adversaries alike.

The unfolding conflict in the Middle East threatens to trigger significant economic instability with a ripple effect felt across the Vietnamese-American community. A sharp rise in oil and gas prices could drive up operating costs for small businesses, from the cornerstone nail salon industry to family-owned phở restaurants and grocery markets. As inflation dampens consumer spending power, revenue in Little Saigons across the country may see a noticeable decline. Furthermore, a shift in federal focus toward overseas conflict could deprioritize domestic policy concerns, potentially affecting immigration timelines and the processing of visa categories such as F2B, H-1B, TPS, and EB-5. Beyond policy shifts, these economic pressures may also impact the ability of families to send remittances back to relatives in Vietnam.