In the wake of President Trump’s surprise military strikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, national security expert Steven Bucci joined Chicago’s Morning Answer with Amy Jacobson and Jim Iuorio to break down what the operation achieved—and what potential dangers still lie ahead.
Bucci, a former Pentagon official and Special Forces commander, called the U.S. precision strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites a military success. He noted that the operation caught Iran off guard, successfully avoided surface-to-air retaliation, and struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear ambitions without sparking an immediate regional conflict. “No other country could have executed a mission like this,” Bucci said, echoing the sentiment shared by senior military officials.
Bucci emphasized that this was not just about protecting Israel, but a direct defense of U.S. interests and global security. He said a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a major threat not just to Israel but also to Arab allies like Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and could eventually target the United States itself. While Israel had already degraded many of Iran’s conventional capabilities through months of targeted strikes, the U.S. stepped in to handle what Bucci called “the one strategic piece” that remained.
However, Bucci cautioned that Iran may still seek to retaliate in other ways. Although Iran’s strategic military capabilities have been weakened, he warned that asymmetric attacks—such as terrorism or cyber operations—remain a possibility. Iran has long relied on proxy forces like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, though those groups have also taken heavy losses. The remaining threat, he said, comes from Iran’s Quds Force, which has operatives across the globe, including in the United States.
According to Bucci, the porous U.S. southern border may pose a security risk in this context. He cited Border Patrol figures indicating that more than 1,500 Iranian nationals crossed during the Biden administration, with hundreds either released into the country or never apprehended. While Bucci expressed confidence in the FBI’s ability to monitor threats, he said the risk of a lone-wolf terrorist attack cannot be ignored.
When asked about Iran’s cyber warfare abilities, Bucci said the regime does possess capabilities in that arena, but described them as “mid-tier”—not on par with China, Russia, or even North Korea. He acknowledged that while cyber attacks are always difficult to predict or defend against, Iran likely lacks the capacity to seriously disrupt U.S. infrastructure.
On the question of enriched uranium, Bucci said no significant nuclear fallout has been detected, though it remains unclear whether all weapons-grade material was destroyed in the strikes. Iran has barred international monitors from accessing the sites, making it difficult to verify the full extent of the damage.
Bucci also addressed the broader geopolitical implications. While the White House has insisted that the strike was not aimed at regime change, former President Trump made a provocative statement suggesting that if the Iranian regime is incapable of improving life for its people, then change may be justified. Bucci said there’s a critical distinction: the United States is not seeking to overthrow the Iranian regime, but would welcome internal change driven by the Iranian people themselves.
He underscored that most Iranians do not support the ruling clerics, and that past protest movements—such as those in 2009 and more recently in 2022—demonstrated the population’s desire for freedom. Bucci criticized past U.S. administrations for failing to support these movements and expressed hope that weakening the regime’s grip on power could empower the Iranian people to reclaim their country.
Bucci concluded that while the risk of retaliation remains, the mission’s success has put the Iranian regime on the defensive. The next steps will depend on vigilance, intelligence, and continued support for allies in the region—but not, he stressed, a rush into a broader war.