15k upvotes on r/politics, at least the comments don't totally suck (but boy are some people really trying)

  • Ziegebock [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    The intention of the strike was to signal to leadership in Iran that the new administration would respond to provocation in the Middle East but is not seeking to escalate tensions. The Journal reports officials as saying that a confidential message was also sent to Tehran following the strike to reinforce the point.

    The president would like you to know that he's not escalating, and if Iran does anything that irritates his foreign policy ambitions it's because they're the escalators.