Putin is crossing lines, and Trump feels it – expert Chalenko

This opinion was voiced by Ihor Chalenko, head of the Center for Analysis and Strategies, during a broadcast on Espreso TV.

"On one hand, this (a possible U.S. strike on Iran – ed.) sends a message to Putin. On the other hand, it is a question of effectiveness. Will those bunker-buster bombs with a 16-ton TNT equivalent, or whatever the figure is, really reach through 70 meters of rock to hit Iran’s underground nuclear site? If that fails, it could turn into a big bubble that bursts in the U.S.’s face. And that's a problem in this situation. A problem because there’s no clear understanding of how to carry out this kind of pinpoint strike, not even to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, but to act as the domino that could bring down the Ayatollah regime," he said.

Chalenko added that if it works, it would be a win for both the U.S. and Israel. And Putin would lose a strategic partner.

"But if this large-scale U.S. airstrike happens and doesn’t deliver results, then Putin will spin it as more proof of Washington's aggression. He’ll push for more unity against, as they like to say, anti-colonial policy, that's something often repeated at global south platforms where the U.S. is being demonized. Moscow will only ramp up that narrative. Although, of course, they’re trying to rebuild some one-on-one ties, but as we’ve seen, the planned meeting to restart bilateral diplomacy didn’t happen. So things aren’t all that smooth between Putin and Trump. And after Trump’s recent sharp comments urging Putin to focus on ending the war in Ukraine, it’s clear that Putin’s pushing the limits, and Trump feels it," he said.

Background

On the night of June 13, Israel launched a major operation against Iran, hitting nuclear and military targets with preemptive strikes. Fox News reported that Israel misled Iran’s air force by calling a meeting just before the attack. After the strikes, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Tehran to make a deal “before it’s too late,” calling the operation a big success.

Trump later told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. might strike Iran’s underground nuclear site at Fordo if needed to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran didn't want the conflict with Israel to spread to neighboring countries but was ready to defend itself if needed.

On June 18, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that a U.S. military move in the Israel-Iran conflict would have serious, irreversible consequences. That same day, during a press briefing, Trump dodged a direct question about whether the U.S. would strike Iran’s nuclear sites.

On June 19, Bloomberg reported that top U.S. officials were preparing for a possible strike on Iran in the coming days.