Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast Chas Freeman: The War Against Iran Could Destroy the U.S. Republic
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Mar 1, 2026 
Chas Freeman, a former U.S. diplomat and Assistant Secretary of Defense with deep Middle East experience, warns a US attack on Iran could spark regional escalation and constitutional strain. He discusses who set strategic aims, risks of empowering hardliners, Gulf states’ dilemmas, military depletion, and how a prolonged conflict favors Iran.
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Regime Change Was The Strategic Objective
- Israel and President Trump aimed to remove Iran from West Asia by toppling its regime, possibly through targeted killings of leadership.
- Freeman cites reports the attack timing was agreed in late December and that killing the supreme leader could push Iran toward nuclearization like North Korea.
Leader Assassination Risks Hezbollah Escalation
- Killing Iran's supreme leader could trigger Hezbollah and other proxies to enter more directly, escalating the conflict on Israel's northern front.
- Freeman cites pre-war Hezbollah warnings to act if Iran's leader were murdered.
Gulf States Face Sovereignty Dilemma
- Iranian strikes targeted U.S. bases in Gulf states, placing host governments in a dilemma between supporting the U.S. or resisting violations of their sovereignty.
- Freeman notes attacks focused on bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE, not local forces.