Overview

• A fragile ceasefire has held since June 22 after U.S. and Israeli bunker-buster raids on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities.
• Bipartisan efforts in Congress are resurfacing to impose checks on the president’s authority to order military action after the strikes.
• Independent assessments indicate the strikes did less damage than claimed, raising concerns that Iran could accelerate its enrichment program without a credible diplomatic framework.
• The June bombings interrupted indirect U.S.-Iran negotiations aimed at securing a successor to the 2015 nuclear deal and may undercut prospects for a durable agreement.
• The White House argues the operation reflects Trump’s ‘peace through strength’ doctrine, aligning with long-standing nonproliferation policy and close U.S.-Israel strategic ties.