Washington D.C., February 2026 — The Trump administration has escalated its rhetoric against Tehran, detailing a secret military strike and warning that Iranian missiles are now being designed to strike the American heartland.

In a series of high-stakes briefings, President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have revealed a new era of “Peace through Strength,” claiming that while diplomacy is preferred, the U.S. military is already taking direct action to dismantle threats before they reach Western shores.

Operation Midnight Hammer: The Secret Strike

President Trump revealed that in June 2025, the United States military carried out a “breakthrough operation” on Iranian soil. Dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, the mission was designed to “obliterate” Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

Despite this major military blow, the President warned that the regime has already begun attempts to restart their nuclear ambitions, ignoring explicit warnings to cease all enrichment activities. “We wiped it out, and they want to start all over again,” Trump stated, emphasizing that the U.S. will never allow the “world’s number one sponsor of terror” to go nuclear.

The New Frontier: ICBMs Targeting the U.S.

While the nuclear threat remains a primary focus, Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted a more immediate conventional danger: Iran’s rapidly advancing ballistic missile program.

The administration confirmed that Iran is no longer just a regional threat to Israel or U.S. bases in Qatar and Bahrain. Instead, they are actively pursuing Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). Rubio noted that Iran’s satellite launch attempts are often “dual-use” tests for long-range weaponry intended to eventually reach the continental United States. Currently, Iranian missiles can already reach much of Europe, with their range growing “exponentially” every year.

A Regime Under Pressure

The administration also took aim at the Iranian regime’s domestic record, citing reports that security forces have killed at least 32,000 protesters during recent internal unrest.

Trump and Rubio both expressed amazement that even with an economy in “tatters” and a population suffering under sanctions, the regime continues to funnel billions into “sinister” weapons programs rather than providing for its people.

Diplomacy or Force?

Despite the military action of the past year, the White House maintains that its preference is to solve the standoff through diplomacy. However, there is a catch: Iran currently refuses to include their ballistic missile program in any nuclear negotiations.

With a newly approved trillion-dollar military budget, the Trump administration signaled that its patience is not infinite. The message to Tehran was blunt: the U.S. will continue to use “Peace through Strength” to ensure that “roadside bomb” tactics of the past do not evolve into a nuclear or ICBM-level threat of the future.

Bottom Line

The era of containment has shifted into an era of active prevention. From the rubble of Operation Midnight Hammer to the warning of missiles reaching U.S. cities, the administration is making it clear: any attempt by Iran to cross the nuclear threshold or threaten the American mainland will be met with “Operation” level consequences.