Why the US acted now

US President Donald Trump started a war with Iran last week. The American and Israeli bombing campaign has killed more than a thousand people, according to Iranian state media. Iran’s retaliatory strikes threaten to cut off all energy exports in the coming days.The FT’s US national editor Edward Luce and US foreign affairs correspondent Abigail Hauslohner explain how that war is changing Washington and America’s allies. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump has no ‘phase two’ plan for Iran war, says US senator

Donald Trump’s dangerous ‘war of whim’

US holds talks with Iranian Kurdish militants over anti-regime operations

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Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. 

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: CBC, US Central Command on X

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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