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Updated March 1, 2026 - U.S. military operations in Iran continue following the targeted killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Trump bets on air power to reshape Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a bold military campaign in Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, aiming to dismantle the country's nuclear program and trigger regime change without deploying ground troops. The strike, which killed Iran's supreme leader, marks a dramatic escalation in Washington's long-standing tensions with Tehran.
Trump framed the operation as a necessary response to decades of Iranian hostility. "For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted 'Death to America,'" he said in a Saturday address. "We're not going to put up with it any longer." The president warned of potential American casualties but called the sacrifice justified to curb what he described as Iran's destabilizing influence across the Middle East since the 1979 revolution.
Uncertainty looms over U.S. strategy
While Trump touts the strike as a potential generational victory, critics argue the administration lacks a coherent post-strike plan. Analysts warn that toppling the Iranian regime through air power alone may prove impossible without a prolonged military commitment-risking a quagmire that could derail Trump's domestic agenda ahead of the November midterm elections.
"The die is cast, and the U.S. has to go all the way now to effect regime change. The problem is, you can't do that without boots on the ground."
Mohammed Hafez, Naval Postgraduate School professor
Hafez, an expert on Islamist political violence, cautioned that Iran's retaliatory strikes against U.S. allies like Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar signal a more aggressive response than previous confrontations. "The Iranian regime's strategy is to create a regional conflict that disrupts the global economy," he said, "and that would not bode well for Trump."
Regional and domestic fallout
A protracted conflict could undermine Trump's other Middle East priorities, including Gaza reconstruction and strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia. At home, the president faces skepticism from his own base, which largely opposes foreign interventions, as well as plummeting approval ratings over economic concerns.
Internal divisions within the administration reportedly surfaced in recent weeks, with senior officials voicing concerns about the operation's risks. Despite this, Trump ordered the largest U.S. military buildup in the region since the 2003 Iraq invasion, projecting confidence even as he sent mixed signals about the campaign's duration.
"I can go long and take over the whole thing, or end it in two or three days," Trump told Axios, later adding on social media that "the heavy and pinpoint bombing... will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary."
Congressional backlash and political risks
Trump launched the strike without seeking congressional approval, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats and some Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the action, calling it a response to Iran's "evil actions," while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the president of failing to provide "critical details about the scope and immediacy of the threat."
"Donald Trump is dragging the United States into a war the American people do not want. Our troops are being put in harm's way for the sake of Trump's war of choice."
Kamala Harris, 2024 Democratic nominee
House Democrats plan to hold an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss their response, with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowing to push for a vote on a resolution to curb Trump's war powers. A senior Democratic aide questioned the administration's lack of strategy: "It's easy to arrest the leader of another country, like in Venezuela, but what do you do in the days that follow?"
Legacy and midterm stakes
The Iran operation could define Trump's legacy, overshadowing his efforts to end "forever wars" in Afghanistan and Iraq. While allies credit his unconventional approach with successes like the Gaza ceasefire and increased NATO funding, critics argue his impulsive foreign policy risks entangling the U.S. in another prolonged conflict.
With midterm elections looming, Trump's ability to navigate both the military campaign and domestic political fallout may determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress. As one analyst noted, the president's gamble in Iran could either cement his reputation as a disruptor-or leave him mired in a crisis of his own making.
