What A Day Trump’s Dangerous Gamble In Iran
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Mar 2, 2026 Nahal Toosi, POLITICO senior foreign affairs correspondent covering the Middle East, breaks down the fallout from recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. She explains who might lead Iran next and how Tehran could respond. She discusses whether U.S. actions aim for regime change, the state of Iran’s nuclear program, and the risks of regional escalation.
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Massive Strikes And Confused U.S. Objectives
- The U.S. and Israel launched strikes on over 2,000 targets in Iran, killing more than 200 people and prompting Iranian retaliation across the region.
- Jane Coaston highlights conflicting official rationales and uncertainty about U.S. objectives, including Trump's mixed statements about talks and regime change.
Interim Council Holds Power After Khamenei
- Iran set up an interim leadership council after Ayatollah Khamenei's killing, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and the chief justice.
- Nahal Toosi explains the assembly of experts will choose the next supreme leader and there's no clear frontrunner.
Killing Leader May Not Change The Regime
- Removing Khamenei may not equal systemic change because power allocation and institutions matter as much as personalities.
- Toosi warns a new supreme leader could preserve the Islamic Republic's structure even if individuals change.