It was just last week that President Trump launched a war against Iran after telling Americans that he was opposed to new wars, especially new Middle East wars. The Iranian regime is practically leaderless and on its back foot, but the commander-in-chief of American forces has yet to explain to a doubting public the rationale for the war.
Clip: Trump's rationale and objectives for Iran war remain unclear
Mar. 06, 2026 AT 8:45 p.m. EST
FROM THIS EPISODE
Clip: Trump demands Iran’s surrender, but ending war is not easy
President Trump has demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender, but we also know that ending Middle East wars on U.S. terms is no easy thing. The panel discusses the decision to go to war and examines the American strategy to the extent that there is, in fact, a strategy.
Full Episode: Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 3/6/26
It’s been a week since the United States and Israel went to war with Iran. The question for President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu remains: Why did they attack, and why now? Join moderator Jeffrey Goldberg, Peter Baker of The New York Times, Susan Glasser of The New Yorker, and Karim Sadjadpour and Nancy Youssef of The Atlantic to discuss this and more.
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