The United States has successfully bombed nuclear sites in Iran. We did it without anyone else being able to see or stop us. We also accomplished this while Donald Trump was in the midst of a great deception, purposely getting everyone to look in one direction while the U.S. Air Force charged in the opposite direction. It seems unlikely that the deception has come to an end.

In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, the White House assured everyone that regime change was not on the table. CBS News reported, "The U.S. reached out to Iran diplomatically Saturday to say the strikes are all the U.S. plans and that regime change efforts are not planned, the sources said." Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and others repeated similar points on the Sunday shows.

Then, later on Sunday, President Trump sent out the following: "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump said on Truth Social."

In truth, these are not mutually exclusive points. Trump is keeping maximum pressure on the Iranians. The message is simple: negotiate or else. Trump has repeatedly explained he's given the Iranians room to negotiate, come to the table, and offer their nuclear program up in exchange for an end to the conflict.

The Iranians have, thus far, refused to do so. When questioned about the nuclear program in Europe, Iran continued to lie, calling it "peaceful," and refused even to enter talks. They say this despite the United States dropping enough ordinance on Iran to shift the mountain landscape.

No other country can do that. No one has the aircraft, the bombing capacity, and the precision to do what the American military just did. Israel has total control of Iranian airspace and has more power with each passing day. Iran has promised countless responses but has little to show for it.

Trump hasn't given Iran another timeline to decide. Still, the message should be loud and clear: give up nuclear ambitions or forfeit your regime. The Iranians have already been thoroughly discredited.

That brings us to the ongoing deception. Once again, the United States is delivering two messages to Iran: we don't want regime change, but it could happen. It wouldn't take much for the United States to send another bombing run or just turn Israel loose to target the mullahs.

Negotiate or else.

I believe that Trump already has a directional lean on this topic. It wouldn't shock me if he's made overtures to Saudi Arabia and Israel on having them control what happens next in Iran. Trump wants to expand the Abraham Accords, one of the signature accomplishments of his administration. Biden desperately tried to add to it but never had the same credibility as Trump.

The Saudis claimed that they won't join unless there's a solution to the Palestinian question. Several other countries made similar claims before opening up with Israel in the Abraham Accords. Trump could offer the Saudis a chance to help dictate what happens in Iran through a puppet government.

That would help ensure some level of stability in the region while also forcing the Saudis to buy in on what happens next. Instead of building up defenses against Iranian incursions, they could stop them from happening.

It doesn't matter what the Saudis claim to believe about the Palestinians. They are more aware than anyone else of the problems that Iran creates. Giving them the ability to control and decide that topic is more valuable than anything happening in Palestine.

That would further isolate the declining remnants of Hamas and Hezbollah, who have now seen their benefactor cut down at the knees. Hamas cheered loudly after October 7, 2023. Iran cheered them on, complete with leaks revealing their involvement in the planning.

Less than two years later, we're staring at the utter decimation of the entire Iranian proxy network and the regime itself. The Iranian mullahs' entire survival hinges on whether or not they're willing to give up nuclear weapons. If they refuse, Trump's threat of regime change gets very real.

Of course, the question is whether this is simply an illusion of choice meant to keep the Iranians on their heels. Trump's new offer of negotiation could be another "two weeks" to negotiate line when he's already decided to bomb them.

Either way, we're on the cusp of profound change in the Middle East. The Iranian regime has killed countless Americans and sown discord across the region. We've defanged them with the Israelis in a deep and meaningful way. Iran's nuclear capabilities are severely degraded, and their terrorist proxies are terrified of the ax falling on them.

It's a new world. In the coming days and weeks, we will find out just how new it is.