Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Farah N. Jan, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of Pennsylvania

‘Destruction is not the same as political success’: US bombing of Iran shows little evidence of endgame strategy

A plume of smoke rises after a strike in Tehran on March 2, 2026. AP Photo/Mohsen Ganji

Shortly after the opening salvo of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026 – with missiles targeting cities across the country, some of which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – President Donald Trump declared the objective was to destroy Iran’s military capabilities and give rise to a change in government.

Framing the operation as a war of liberation, Trump called on Iranians to “take over your government.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.