Politics Weekly America Was Trump ever in control of the Iran war?
22 snips
Mar 5, 2026 
Andrew Roth, Guardian global affairs correspondent covering US foreign policy, and Ali Vaez, Iran-focused crisis analyst with Pentagon wargame experience, unpack chaotic decision making. They discuss how Pentagon simulations compare with real strikes. They explore who pushed the initial attacks, escalation risks, messaging and rules of engagement, and possible US next moves.
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This Conflict Became A US Israel Team Effort
- Vaez highlights unexpected close U.S.-Israel coordination; planners assumed a U.S.-Iran bilateral fight, not a joint Israeli-American campaign.
- He argues Benjamin Netanyahu long pushed the U.S. to take down Iran and finally convinced Trump.
Red Lines And Norms Have Broken Down
- Vaez warns norms have eroded: assassinating leaders and relaxed constraints on civilian casualties are no longer treated as categorical red lines.
- He notes blurred rules increase space for unforeseen, potentially unlawful strikes like the alleged school attack.
US Entered War Without A Poststrike Strategy
- Vaez says the Trump administration entered without a clear poststrike plan and overestimated how quickly Iranian social unrest or regime change might follow.
- He estimates the conflict has cost the U.S. more than expected in lives and strategic exposure.