Jacobin Radio Long Reads: Trump’s Nation-Breaking War w/ Afshin Matin-Asgari
Mar 11, 2026
Afshin Matin-Asgari, a Middle East history professor and author on Iran–US relations, joins to unpack the recent US–Israeli war on Iran. He traces how the campaign breaks historical patterns. He describes civilian devastation, information blackouts, leadership turmoil, diaspora politics, and competing war aims. The conversation probes what survival or collapse would mean for Iran and global consequences.
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War Represents A Radical Break In US–Iran History
- The US-Israel assault on Iran marks a radical departure from previous US–Iran dynamics.
- Afshin Matin-Asgari argues this goes beyond last summer's attack, representing an unprecedented escalation aimed at regime collapse.
Civilian Casualties Are Devastating And Hard To Verify
- The civilian toll is catastrophic and information is severely limited by communication blackouts.
- Matin-Asgari cites 1,200–1,300 casualties (rising) and describes destroyed schools, hospitals, and personal uncertainty about family safety.
Minab School Strike Became A Symbol Of Civilian Horror
- The bombing of a primary school in Minab killed over 160 children and symbolized the war's cruelty.
- Matin-Asgari recounts images of backpacks stained with blood and rescuers describing scenes of astounding cruelty.
