After dramatic internal upheaval in Iran, high-stakes nuclear negotiations, and a massive U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump launched major combat operations against Iran on February 28 “to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests.” Israel joined the strikes on Iran, and Trump called on Iranians to “seize control of your destiny.” Tehran responded quickly with attacks on U.S. military positions in the Middle East. On Tuesday, March 3, join the Foreign Policy program at Brookings for a discussion about the war and its implications for Iran, the Middle East, and international security. Online viewers can submit questions via e-mail to [email protected] or via X (formerly Twitter) @BrookingsFP.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 28, 2026 12:25 UTC