History will debate the Iran conflict for decades, but from my perspective, President Donald Trump has already "won" the war and done so decisively.
Let's not forget what this war was all about.
For decades, Iran had promised to build and use one or more nuclear devices to wipe Israel off the map, not to mention to destroy the "Great Satan" — America.
Just before the war, the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency reported Tehran was just weeks away from weaponized plutonium.
With such plutonium, an atomic bomb could be constructed in short order.
The first and most central objective of the war, as articulated by Trump, his advisers, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was to stop Iran from building such a weapon and to destroy its nuclear program.
By all accounts, that goal was accomplished with remarkable speed.
Within roughly 10 days of sustained strikes, the U.S. and Israel struck the key enrichment facilities, research sites, and command structures — all tied to nuclear development.
U.S. officials said Iran's weapons program was likely set back decades.
The second pillar of Trump's victory rests on the broader dismantling of Iran as a regional military power.
According to Pentagon briefings, Iran's navy, air force, and military infrastructure have been destroyed and neutralized — from air bases to naval vessels to missile depots to command-and-control centers and more — all wiped out.
While Iran retains asymmetric capabilities, the conventional military balance in the region has shifted dramatically.
If Iran decides to remain a nuisance, it can do so. But the U.S., Israel, and allies will move from full war mode to a policing role.
Third, Trump's actions have ushered in a new, de facto Arab-Israeli alliance as key Gulf states see their future tied to Washington and Jerusalem.
The Abraham Accords, once criticized as largely symbolic, have taken on a new reality as shared security concerns have brought Israel and Sunni Arab states into close alignment.
During my recent meeting with Netanyahu, he told me that his long-held vision of a Gulf-state oil pipeline running through Israel "could now be realized," highlighting the emerging economic dimension of this cooperation.
This alignment, while still fragile and early, suggests a new regional order where economic integration and military coordination reinforce one another. And yes, we will have Trump to thank for it.
Fourth, Trump's decisive stand against Iran has, in the long term, weakened Iran's proxy network, which has disrupted the region for years.
While groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis retain stockpiles of weapons, they no longer will have steady support of money and arms from Tehran. Game over.
Already we can see their operational capacity diminishing.
Fifth, Trump's actions against Iran will ultimately strengthen NATO by forcing a reckoning among its members.
Trump has long criticized countries that spend little on defense while relying heavily on U.S. protection, singling out nations like Spain for contributing just over 1% of GDP to military expenditures.
The president's past criticisms of NATO have become crystalized for the world to see during the recent conflict.
Already there are renewed calls for restructuring the alliance, with some suggesting that nations unwilling to meet obligations should be asked to leave.
This reassessment of NATO will make Europe safer and reduce the risk of a regional war with Russia.
Sixth, China emerges in this framework as a strategic loser, despite not being directly involved in the conflict.
As a major importer of Persian Gulf oil and a quiet partner of Iran, China's vulnerability to disruptions in the region has been laid bare.
U.S. control over key maritime routes and influence in the Gulf now potentially gives Washington added leverage in its broader competition with Beijing.
After witnessing Trump's strong hand dealing with Iran, it is doubtful President Xi Jinping will dare test him with an attack on Taiwan.
Seventh, Russia's position has been weakened as well.
Although Moscow has profited in the short term from sanctions relief and high oil prices, these are only temporary benefits.
The more significant takeaway is that Moscow has failed its client state, Iran – especially as the world witnessed its Russian-backed defenses crumble under U.S. and Israeli attacks.
Also, Russia's inability to protect a key partner raises serious questions about its reliability as an ally.
For countries considering alignment with Russia, the message may be sobering: partnership does not come with any real benefits.
Eighth, Trump is right when he says that stabilizing the Gulf and reopening energy flows will ultimately benefit global markets and the world economy.
If Iran were to engage in a negotiated settlement, oil production could increase, potentially lowering prices and easing economic pressures worldwide.
If, after the war, Iran joins the civilized world, its oil flows will only increase.
This economic dimension is central to Trump's broader claim that his approach avoids prolonged instability.
Ninth, the Iran conflict could make the United States stronger and better prepared for future wars.
Clearly, this conflict has provided what military planners often call "lessons learned" for future engagements.
The importance of drone warfare, supply chains for munitions, and the strategic value of overseas air and naval bases have all been underscored.
For example, analysts expect massive investment in counter-drone technologies that are more efficient and cost-effective systems in neutralizing emerging threats.
These nine Trump "wins" are not the final list, but just the most apparent as of today.
Trump's decisiveness and strategic approach in handling this crisis stands in sharp contrast to President George W. Bush's approach in handling the Iraq War.
Where Iraq and Afghanistan became prolonged and costly occupations — literally quagmires —Trump's engagement would be shorter, more targeted, and limited in scope and result in economic and security benefits.
Importantly, Trump will avoid large-scale troop deployments and the likely casualties that follow.
With Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. faced postwar instability and insurgency.
But, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar predicted to me that the war on Iran will eventually lead to a popular uprising against the regime.
Last year's 12-day war, he noted, led to a popular Iranian uprising six months later, in January of this year.
That uprising was brutally suppressed.
But this time, the regime has been seriously weakened and will likely not have the same iron grip as it did in the past.
The media and Trump's critics, even on the right, have been quick to seize on the fact some results have not been immediate.
But such criticism is premature. Trump has already won the war.
The future will demonstrate the president's decision-making as a courageous visionary — a profile in courage for our time, who took early steps to prevent a larger, more catastrophic war.
Christopher Ruddy is CEO of Newsmax Inc., one of the nation's leading news channels and outlets. Read more Christopher Ruddy Insider articles — Click Here Now.
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