Newscast The US and Israel attack Iran
12 snips
Feb 28, 2026 
Lucy Powell, deputy Labour leader and UK politician, reflects on a recent by-election setback and party strategy. Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent, reports from Iran with on-the-ground views. They discuss the sequence of strikes across Iran and the region. They also cover the political calculus behind US and Israeli decisions and the domestic fallout inside Iran.
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Iran's Security Apparatus Makes Rapid Collapse Unlikely
- Iran has strong domestic security structures (IRGC and Basij) prepared to defend the regime, making rapid collapse unlikely.
- Lyse Doucet notes prior protest waves produced few defections in security forces despite thousands of deaths.
Protests Are Diverse And Some See Attack As Last Resort
- Public unrest in Iran is broad-based with economic, corruption and political drivers; some protesters see an external strike as a way to topple the regime.
- Doucet reports people telling her 'I've got nothing to lose' and some view a US strike as the only route to change.
Explicit Evidence For Imminent Threat Was Not Shown
- No public evidence was presented that Iran was about to imminently attack US or Israeli targets, weakening the legal/pretext argument for a preemptive strike.
- Lyse contrasts this with the Iraq 2003 lead-up where evidence and coalitions were publicly mobilised.