Politics Weekly America ‘Peacemaker’ Trump starts a war with Iran
11 snips
Mar 1, 2026 
Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s diplomatic editor with decades covering international affairs, breaks down the US–Israel strikes on Iran and their fallout. He walks through the timeline and targets. He explores Iran’s counterattacks, regional risks and how the action could reshape Middle East power dynamics. He also examines domestic reactions in Iran and the motives behind US timing.
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School Strike Killed Over 100 Children Amid Conflicting Accounts
- A devastating strike hit a school, killing more than 100 people, mostly children, amid disputes over whether it was an allied bomb or a stray IRGC missile.
- Wintour highlights contested accounts and tragic civilian death tolls including teenage girls in a sports hall.
Iran's Retaliation Spreads Across Gulf Causing Civilian Damage
- Iran launched rapid retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region, hitting UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan and causing civilian infrastructure damage.
- Wintour reports drones and missiles missed targets, striking airports and high-rises and causing panic at Dubai airport.
Killing The Leader Could Rewrite Middle East Balance
- Removing the supreme leader could transform the Middle East by dismantling Iran's proxy network and shifting regional balance if regime change succeeds.
- Wintour warns that replacing Iran's fulcrum of power would redraw regional dynamics, making a pro-US government the new pivot if achieved.