The Powers That Be: Daily Iran’s Nuclear Chessboard
Feb 25, 2026
Julia Ioffe, journalist and foreign policy commentator focused on Russia and Iran. She unpacks recent U.S.-Iran tensions and Tehran’s latest nuclear proposal. She examines whether U.S. moves aim for regime change and the pattern of limited strikes as political theater. The conversation also checks the fourth-year state of Russia’s war in Ukraine and what might push Putin toward a deal.
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Iran Pressure Feeds A Regime Change Playbook
- The Iran escalation appears driven more by a drive for regime change and political signaling than a narrowly defined nuclear trigger.
- Julia Ioffe argues Trump inherited a fixation on undoing the Iran deal and is using strikes and pressure as 'points on the board' to portray action without clear objectives.
Trump's Iran Fixation Mirrors His Venezuela Playbook
- Julia Ioffe recounts Trump's long-standing fixation on Iran stretching back to his first term, mirroring his approach to Venezuela.
- She references past actions: exiting the Iran deal, 'maximum pressure', and killing Qasem Soleimani as part of that pattern.
Trump's Interventionist Pattern Is Episodic Strike Politics
- Donald Trump governs as an interventionist who uses surgical strikes to demonstrate action while avoiding prolonged wars.
- Peter Hamby notes Trump learns he can 'hit' targets, claim success, and move on, reinforcing episodic military moves without long-term plans.