U.S. Strike on Iran Could Reshape Putin’s War Calculations in Ukraine – AFPC Founding President

A decisive U.S. military strike on a major Iranian nuclear facility would send a powerful signal to the Kremlin and could prompt Russian President Vladimir Putin to reconsider his approach to the war in Ukraine, says Herman Pirchner, the founding President of the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC).

The Gaze reports on this with reference to Ukrinform.

Pirchner argued that such an operation would demonstrate Washington’s readiness to use force – a message that would resonate in Moscow, where officials have yet to see a robust military response from the Trump administration.

“A U.S. strike on a significant nuclear target in Iran would show America’s capacity for forceful action. This could alter Moscow’s strategic calculus, especially given the lack of strong reactions so far from President Trump’s team,” Pirchner stated.

He emphasized that a bold American move in the Middle East could serve as a deterrent, with the Kremlin forced to weigh the possibility of a similar U.S. response in the context of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

Pirchner also addressed pending legislation in Congress that would introduce a new wave of sanctions against Russia. 

While the bill enjoys strong bipartisan support in the Senate, with over 80 senators in favor, its path through the House remains less clear, largely hinging on House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“I’m confident that if the bill passes the Senate, it will also make it through the House,” Pirchner added.

Moreover, Pirchner believes Ukraine still possesses sufficient military resources to continue resisting Russian aggression. He further predicted that internal pressures could eventually force Russia to de-escalate.

Earlier this week, President Trump confirmed that he is still weighing military options against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, following heightened tensions between Iran and Israel.

As The Gaze reported earlier, on June 17, U.S. President unexpectedly cut short his visit to the G7 summit, citing an urgent need to return to Washington due to escalating situation in the Middle East.