Trump’s primary wager is that Iran and its proxies in the Middle East have been so weakened that the US president can cast his intervention as both limited and successful. It is also a bet that a cowed Tehran will swiftly seek a settlement rather than retaliating.

Iran’s response to America’s strikes on its nuclear facilities will likely depend on how effective the US’ bunker-busting bombs have been.

Donald Trump has confirmed that the US struck Iran overnight and “obliterated” its key nuclear facilities, marking a major escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict. Just days ago the US president gave himself two weeks to make a decision over joining the war in the Middle East,