Category: Interviews

interviews

What Are the Trump Administration’s True Objectives in Iran?

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Truthout, March 4, 2026, by Stephen Zunes [podcast]: Many of President Trump’s stated justifications for the US and Israeli war on Iran are demonstrably false… Much of it has to do with what was perceived as an opportunity. The Iranian regime has never been more isolated [and] U.S. hostility toward an independent-minded Iran has been a major component of U.S. foreign policy for decades, regardless of Israel…

Why is Trump going to war with Iran?

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48 Hills, San Francisco, March 1, 2026:Trump had no logical reason to start this war: A mediator from Oman just the day before the bombing started said the two countries were making good progress on a nuclear deal. The message instead: “The US can’t be trusted.” To suggest that this will lead to regime change is “naive,” Zunes says: The Revolutionary Guards have as much control of the country as the official supreme leader, and eliminating a few more top Iranians won’t matter much. The way could easily escalate and spread. The outcome: “This is just going to end up killing a lot of people.”

Interview: Could a US Strike Unite Iran Instead of Breaking It? Fair Observer

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Fair Observer, Feb. 28, 2026 (28 min): With nearly 600 US fighter jets, two carrier strike groups and 50 warships positioned around Iran, tensions in the Middle East are rising fast. In this episode of FO Talks, Professor Stephen Zunes examines whether a “limited strike” on Iran is even possible — or whether escalation is inevitable. We discuss the Strait of Hormuz, oil disruption risks, Iranian nationalism, regime change fantasies, Israel’s role, Gulf state reactions and how China and Russia might respond.