Damage from US and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, Iran, March 6, 2026

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Trump Panics Over His War on Iran

“A Sense of Normalcy”: Life in the UAE Amid the US-Israel War on Iran

Why the UK is Involved in the US-Israel War on Iran

UPDATE, MAR 10:

Gideon Levy of Israel’s Haaretz and I joined Al Jazeera English on Tuesday for a 10-minute discussion of the “uncontained war” around the US-Israel strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliation.

We sort through the muddled objectives of both Israel and the Trump Administration, with no apparent idea how to achieve them. We cut through disinformation and invective, particularly from Donald Trump, to consider the extent of the crisis and whether it can be curbed.

UPDATE, MAR 9:

I spoke with France 24 English on Sunday afternoon about Iran’s conflicting messages: President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to Gulf States for Iranian retaliatory attacks, but the Revolutionary Guards said strikes on US bases would continue.

I explain how Iran was pushed into those strikes by expanding US-Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure, including a desalination plant and oil facilities.

And I consider the “uncontained war” with no apparent US plan to achieve its goal of “regime surrender” and the Trump camp’s rejection of mediation.

No one has leverage on the Israelis except the US. No one has leverage on the Iranian regime if it does not want to surrender.

Who has leverage on the US? The Trump family has billions of dollars of investments in the Gulf area. The US has vital strategic interests: oil, military bases, and the possible of AI and tech deals.

UPDATE, MAR 8:

I joined Times Radio’s Dom Joly on Saturday afternoon to analyze the domestic dimension of Donald Trump’s war on Iran.

I begin with the observation that, far from Trump getting a boost, between 55% and 60% of Americans — including 20% to 25% of Republicans — oppose the military operations.

In all my life, whenever an American President has gone to war, at the outset there has been a “rally round the flag” effect.

That didn’t happen this time despite Iran, for many Americans, projected as this country to be feared for decades.

The signs are not good for the Trump folks until they can get a quick supposed “victory” over the Iranian regime.

I reiterate that the Trump camp has no “Plan B” if the regime holds out, and note how the self-declared “President of Peace” has reverted to being the guy who “likes to kill people and blow stuff up”. So what happens over the widening split in Trump’s MAGA movement?

And then I note that there is still the issue of Trump’s struggles with the economy?

UPDATE 1554 GMT:

I joined Pakistan TV to evaluate the possibility of de-escalation of the US-Israel war, expressing caution because of the lack of success to this point of the Qatari effort at mediation.

I reiterate the differences between Trump Administration and Israeli aims, and I set out the facts over Iran’s nuclear program.

Then I emphasize the consequences of a spreading war:

We have an uncontained conflict, and until people can somehow get de-escalation, I fear we are all in for a very uncertain and disruptive period for some time to come.

Watch from 3:22:

UPDATE, MARCH 7:

I joined a panel discussion on India’s News 9 on Friday to analyze the state of the US-Israel war on Iran and the extent of Iranian retaliation.

I highlight the Trump Administration’s rejection of mediation by Qatar, seeking a return to US-Iran talks, but question if it has a “Plan B” for “regime capitulation”.

The other panellists are Gen. Sudhakar Jee and Prof. Swaran Singh.

ORIGINAL ENTRY, MARCH 6: I joined international outlets on Thursday to analyze how the US and Israel are expanding their wars in Iran and Lebanon, but without a clear idea of how they are going to achieve their objectives.

I summarize the latest strikes from the air and at sea. I review Iran’s retaliation. I note that this is now an “uncontained war”.

And I emphasize that the Trump camp, amid its muddled statements, is seeking “regime capitulation” — in contrast to the “regime change” which the Netanyahu Government wants — but has no apparent idea how to complete this.

Watch France 24 English from 3:40

I begin with reports that the US military and the CIA are training and arming Iranian Kurdish insurgents, based in Iraq, to cross the border and stir up a rising in western Iran.

I consider the claim of Iranian drones being fired on an airport and school in Azerbaijan.

Then I cut to the chase about the “lack of a Plan B”: “Donald Trump just wants to kill people and blow stuff up.”

If you have not thought this through, you cut rid of a bloody, repressive regime but then you have a country that falls apart in insurgency and sectarian conflict.

Watch India’s WION from 4:46

I analyze the escalation in US and Israeli attacks, but note that the Iranian regime is still in place:

Historically, regimes have not changed by airpower alone.

So if the US is not going to send in ground forces the Iranian regime refuses to surrender, what does the US does next?