Why Pick a Fight With Iran Now?

"When the U.S. last launched strikes against Iran, in June 2025, the goal was apparent: destroy the country's nuclear facilities. This time around, Trump has named shifting objectives. Is it to go back and really destroy the country's nuclear capacity, which experts say were not in fact obliterated the first time? Is it to protect Iranian protesters? Force a regime change?"

"Iran arrives knowing that the United States has positioned dozens of warships and military aircraft in the region, evidently ready to strike. The U.S. arrives presumably knowing that although Iran has said it wants a diplomatic end to the stalemate, its leadership is not eager to compromise with the West."

"Earlier this week, even Pentagon leaders began dropping hints that the lack of a clear objective was concerning them. In this episode, we talk to our staff writer Tom Nichols about the Pentagon's response to that lack of clarity and to our Nancy Youssef, who has been tracking the military buildup in the region."

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are meeting with Iran's top negotiator Abbas Araghchi in Geneva as tensions escalate. The United States has positioned dozens of warships and military aircraft in the region, signaling military readiness. While Iran has expressed interest in diplomatic resolution, its leadership remains reluctant to compromise with the West. The Trump administration has not clearly defined its objectives, which could include destroying Iran's nuclear facilities, protecting protesters, or forcing regime change. Pentagon leaders have expressed concern about this lack of strategic clarity. Previous U.S. strikes in June 2025 targeted Iran's nuclear facilities but did not fully eliminate its nuclear capacity according to experts.

Read at The Atlantic