KQED's Forum In Second Week, Iran War Expands Through Region
Mar 10, 2026
Nabih Bulos, Beirut-based LA Times bureau chief reporting on Lebanon and Hezbollah. Dalia Dassa Kaye, UCLA foreign policy expert on U.S.-Iran relations. Mona Yacoubian, CSIS analyst on Middle East security. They discuss Lebanon as a second front, Hezbollah’s political choices, regional strikes across the Gulf, Iran’s new succession, and how energy, law, and U.S. strategy shape widening conflict.
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Iran Shifted To Hitting Gulf Infrastructure And Civilians
- Iran expanded retaliation beyond U.S. military bases to Gulf states and civilian infrastructure, including desalination plants.
- Mona Yacoubian notes tit-for-tat strikes and an unanticipated horizontal escalation hitting oil and civilian targets.
New Supreme Leader Signals Regime Survival Tactics
- Iran's leadership change to Mojtaba Khamenei signals a regime prioritizing survival and deterrence amid internal protests.
- Dalia Dassa Kaye connects selection of the son to an existential crisis after mass protests and a desire to consolidate IRGC support.
A Declared Victory Won't End The Cycle Of Violence
- Declaring the war 'over' won't end regional instability; Israel and Iran may continue periodic military exchanges.
- Dalia Dassa Kaye warns a hardline Iranian leadership makes recurring conflicts and long-term regional distrust likely.
