The United States’ precision airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear facilities Saturday night have delivered what one former top White House official called the “ideal outcome” in managing the ongoing crisis between Israel and Iran. According to Brett McGurk, former National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa under President Joe Biden, the Trump administration’s handling of the escalating tensions represents a major strategic success.
“Bottom line, this is about the best place we can be,” McGurk said during a CNN interview late Monday. “I give extremely high marks to this national security team and President Trump for managing this crisis and getting us where we are.”
McGurk, a seasoned diplomat who has served under four presidents from both parties, underscored that the strikes not only addressed Iran’s nuclear escalation, but also opened a potential diplomatic pathway toward de-escalation in the region.
“There’s a chance for diplomacy here,” he said. “Not only on the Iran side, but also in Gaza. Those talks are ongoing in Cairo. There’s a Hamas delegation there, and there’s real potential for a ceasefire to take hold.”
McGurk’s remarks follow the dramatic launch of Operation Midnight Hammer, a U.S.-led mission involving over 125 aircraft—including B-2 stealth bombers—that targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The operation, executed late Saturday night, was intended to disrupt Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities and send a clear deterrent message following weeks of mounting threats in the region.
While McGurk had resigned from his post in the Trump administration back in 2018 over disagreements regarding troop withdrawal from Syria, he nonetheless praised Trump’s recent actions as bold and effective.
His bipartisan credibility adds weight to his endorsement, given his previous service under both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
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