In a move that perfectly channels the spirit of Reagan’s “peace through strength,” President Donald J. Trump has once again made it crystal clear: Iran will not be allowed to play nuclear chicken with the United States—or with the free world. And right on cue, the global axis of tyrants is crying foul.

On Thursday, the Kremlin’s Ministry of Hurt Feelings released a statement warning the United States that any potential military strike against Iran could lead to “catastrophic” consequences. That’s rich coming from Moscow, which is currently neck-deep in its own bloody war in Ukraine, while happily selling drones, missiles, and strategic cover to the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism—Iran.

Let’s be blunt: Trump isn’t bluffing. When he said Iran had until his administration’s imposed deadline to abandon its nuclear ambitions or face severe consequences—including secondary tariffs and strategic bombing—he meant it. The B-2s are already in position. And unlike the weak, apology-filled foreign policy of the Biden years, this is what deterrence looks like.

Russia’s top diplomat Maria Zakharova whined on Thursday that American threats of force are “illegal and unacceptable.” She warned that any strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure could result in “an irreversible global catastrophe.” You’d almost think the Kremlin cares about the global environment—when in reality, it’s terrified that a competent American president is finally back in charge.

Zakharova said Moscow is “committed to finding solutions” to the Iranian nuclear issue—of course, “solutions” that protect Tehran’s ability to keep enriching uranium under the table. The Russian position is pure theater. They claim Iran’s nuclear program is for “peaceful energy” purposes, despite mountains of Western intelligence proving otherwise. Iran’s regime has been enriching uranium far beyond what is needed for civilian use, and they’ve refused meaningful inspections. Everyone knows what’s coming if they succeed—and President Trump won’t be the one to let it happen.

Russia, now bound to Iran by a “strategic partnership,” has every reason to scream bloody murder. Their little anti-American alliance relies heavily on Tehran continuing to destabilize the Middle East while serving as a proxy for Russian interests. But that alliance offers no mutual defense clause, meaning Putin can only bark from the sidelines while Trump gets to work putting America—and the world—first again.

Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov even tried to play prophet of doom, telling Russian state media that an attack on Iran would bring about “a broader open conflict” in the region. Funny, because Iran has already been stoking that conflict for years. They fund Hezbollah, arm the Houthis, attack oil tankers, and shout “Death to America” on a weekly basis. But now that Trump is in the White House again, their days of impunity are over.

Let’s not forget: under President Trump’s first term, Iran was broke, isolated, and afraid. The regime’s ability to fund terrorism had been kneecapped by severe sanctions and the targeted removal of Qasem Soleimani, one of the most dangerous men in the Middle East. The Trump Doctrine worked. And now it’s back.

Of course, the Biden foreign policy brain trust—including the surrender crowd still sobbing over the Iran Deal—are in hysterics. They’d rather bend the knee and beg Iran to return to a fantasy agreement that did nothing to stop enrichment and everything to fund terrorist proxies. But Americans aren’t fooled. We’ve seen what happens when the Left is in charge: weakness, appeasement, and chaos.

Trump’s strategy is simple and effective: you don’t negotiate from your knees. You don’t let terror regimes threaten your allies, endanger your troops, or race toward nuclear breakout while you fiddle with climate summits. And you sure as hell don’t let Moscow dictate U.S. foreign policy from behind a podium in the Kremlin.

This is what real leadership looks like. This is what America First means.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Iran with nukes is not just a threat to Israel or the Middle East—it’s a threat to civilization. If the Left had its way, Tehran would already be lighting cigars with uranium enrichment certificates.

But Donald Trump is back, and he’s not waiting for disaster to strike before taking action. The world is watching—and the bad guys are sweating.