ABC News Daily What comes next in Trump’s war with Iran?
11 snips
Mar 1, 2026 
Nate Swanson, senior fellow and director of the Iran Strategy Project at the Atlantic Council, offers Iran expertise and policy experience. He walks through the initial US and Israeli strikes and Iran's retaliation. He examines the strike on Khamenei's compound, regional escalation risks, missile defenses, the role of proxies, and the political and legal fallout.
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Trump Calls For Iranians To Rise Without Citing Imminent Threat
- Donald Trump framed the operation historically and urged Iranians to rise up without outlining an immediate imminent threat.
- Swanson noted the rhetorical push for regime change was unique and shifted responsibility onto the Iranian people to secure their future.
Khamenei's Death Ends An Era But Deepens Uncertainty
- Killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is an end-of-era but also raises huge risks since he was the central decision-maker in Iran.
- Swanson warned there's no guarantee the regime collapses and the move creates major unknowns for stability.
This Campaign Is More Open Ended Than Past Strikes
- This campaign differed from previous strikes like the June action or the Soleimani hit by being more open-ended and riskier.
- Swanson said consequences will be much greater and Iran may no longer seek quick off-ramps to de-escalate.