# Speculation About Trump's Underlying Reasons for Bombing Iran and Other Targets **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209 "2026-03-04T21:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/101 "2026-03-17T08:25:40Z")
CNN has a good interview with Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, on how America’s and Israel’s goals for the war diverge. From where I stand, it seems pretty accurate. > **[Analysis: What does Israel want from the Iran war? Is it different from what...](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/16/politics/israel-iran-trump-us-goals-hormuz-nato-analysis)** > > The US and Israel attacked Iran together at the same time. But as the war drags into its third week, it is becoming clear the two countries have some differences in how they see the war proceeding. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/102 "2026-03-17T22:06:05Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > (POTUS) > > > I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory because it is their territory, it’s the place from which they get their energy So, he believes these other nations must share his curious notion that any territory whose resources are of value to you, becomes “your” territory? ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/103 "2026-03-18T04:33:13Z")
His “grab them by the pussy” mentality writ on a global level. What a complete disgrace this idiot is. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/104 "2026-03-18T10:02:35Z")
> [@Speculation for and/or Consequences to the US and Elsewhere for Engaging in the Bombing of Iran and Other Targets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/205): > > …If allied leaders thought that their sacrifice might count for something in Washington, they might choose differently. But most of them have stopped trying to find the hidden logic behind Trump’s actions, and they understand that any contribution they make will count for nothing No prizes for guessing who sourced this story (or why) this lead story in today’s Guardian: > **[UK security adviser attended US-Iran talks and judged deal was within reach](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/17/uk-security-adviser-attended-us-iran-talks-and-judged-deal-was-within-reach?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other)** > > Exclusive: Jonathan Powell thought Tehran’s ‘surprising’ offer on its nuclear programme could prevent rush to war, sources say ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/105 "2026-03-18T15:12:24Z")
> Powell thought progress had been made in Geneva in late February and that the deal proposed by Iran was “surprising”, according to sources. > > Two days after the talks ended, and after a date had been agreed for a further round of technical talks in Vienna, the US and Israel launched the attack on Iran. I remain confident that the unprovoked bombing attacks were fast-tracked by Israel and the US precisely **because** the talks were going so well. They were deeply afraid that peace was going to break out, and neither Israel or the US could stand for that. Particularly the leaders of those countries, who needed the distraction. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/106 "2026-03-18T15:21:49Z")
You may be right. It’s all shaping up like the Suez fiasco. I wonder what will be this year’s equivalent of the Soviet repression in Budapest - Taiwan? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/107 "2026-03-18T17:36:33Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I remain confident that the unprovoked bombing attacks were fast-tracked by Israel and the US precisely **because** the talks were going so well. I’m not convinced but that’s the way I’d bet if forced to. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/108 "2026-03-22T13:37:22Z")
_NY Times:_ > "The White House has since said that the president does not expect a surrender announcement from Iran, but that Mr. Trump will determine when Iran has “effectively surrendered.”’ Hahahahahahah! Sad, weak idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/109 "2026-03-22T20:37:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I remain confident that the unprovoked bombing attacks were fast-tracked by Israel and the US precisely **because** the talks were going so well. The next meeting was supposed to be negotiation of technical details. The US would need to send people who would understand how verification could be made to work. People who would be competent in such matters may not entirely agree with el donald’s pronouncements and may occasionally need to explain such things to him. He hates that and tends to fire such people. It’s an aspect of the technical god syndrome. el donald is not a god, but he thinks he is. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/110 "2026-03-23T02:05:29Z")
The Washington Post is not in charge of the war. Marines are moving into place for the next phase of the war which is likely the capture of nuclear material. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/111 "2026-03-23T02:30:27Z")
> [@United States and Israel are bombing Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran/1028071/1021): > > Why are the Iranians bombing Israel? …because Israel and America conducted a sneak attack and assassinated practically the entire Iranian leadership along with many of their families. Then they bombed a school killing over 160 schoolgirls and STILL haven’t had the decency to admit it and say sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/112 "2026-03-23T06:13:56Z")
The Iranians have been bombing Israel since April 2024, so unless they have precognitive powers, that’s not it. Anyway, that doesn’t answer my question. I didn’t ask what provoked them, or whether they were justified. The Iranians are logical people. What’s their goal in launching missiles at Israel? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/113 "2026-03-23T06:27:12Z")
The destruction of Israel and the US. They’ve already killed tens of thousands of their own people to stay in power. It is a religious war. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/114 "2026-03-23T06:43:51Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > The Iranians have been bombing Israel since April 2024 … that was in response to Israel assassinating two Iranian generals when they bombed the Iranian consulate annex building next to the Iranian embassy in Damascus. In both cases: Israel started it. > [@Alessan](#): > > so unless they have precognitive powers, that’s not it. Yeah it is. > [@Alessan](#): > > What’s their goal in launching missiles at Israel? The goal so far is to retaliate in kind for every attack on them. This is Israel’s war of choice. They wanted this. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/115 "2026-03-23T06:59:41Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > The goal so far is to retaliate in kind for every attack on them. This is Israel’s war of choice. They wanted this. Israel knew what it would get, which is why I was wondering what was _Israel’s_ goal. As much “fun” as decapitation strikes sound on paper, that serves to strengthen the regime, for instance. And getting bombed means you need increased militarization and a plausible nuclear deterrent… more state-of-the-art air defenses, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/116 "2026-03-23T07:24:40Z")
> [@United States and Israel are bombing Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran/1028071/1026): > > How do you think a nuclear weapon in the hands of a theocracy whose leaders regularly chant “Death to America” is going to go. Well, they don’t have any. The only reason their nuclear program was kickstarted into life again was a particular leader of another nation unilaterally withdrew from a treaty with Iran. > [@United States and Israel are bombing Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran/1028071/1026): > > The time to topple Iran from within is now. There will never be another chance like this in the foreseeable future. There doesn’t seem to be any chance of toppling Iran from within now. > [@Magiver](#): > > It is a religious war. Nope. It’s not even close to one. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/117 "2026-03-23T08:15:59Z")
> [@United States and Israel are bombing Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran/1028071/1034): > > That’s not a goal, that’s a strategy … it’s a goal and a strategy. > [@United States and Israel are bombing Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran/1028071/1034): > > how can bombing another country win a war? Israel can’t take what it dishes out. If nukes aren’t used, Israel will likely eventually give up. The rest of the world is sick and tired and many of us aren’t blaming Iran. We’ve got only about three weeks of fuel left here. We are screwed. Israel started this war. They aren’t going to win it. So they better start figuring out how to end it and do it quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/118 "2026-03-23T17:03:09Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Well, they don’t have any. The only reason their nuclear program was kickstarted into life again was a particular leader of another nation unilaterally withdrew from a treaty with Iran. There was only one reason for the enrichment and that was for making a bomb. And previous presidents helped pay for it with stacks of money flown in. Iran has been the region’s chief financier of of terrorism. It’s a nation that used children as mine sweepers and has now murdered many thousands of their own people for protesting. And you don’t know if they don’t have any. What is known is their declaration of enough NOW to make a bomb. > [@Monty](#): > > There doesn’t seem to be any chance of toppling Iran from within now. The Kurds are gearing up for this as we speak and the US continues to take out their ability to wage war. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/119 "2026-03-23T17:21:14Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > The goal so far is to retaliate in kind for every attack on them. This is Israel’s war of choice. They wanted this. It has been a long goal of the US to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. With the current internal unrest in Iran and their stated achievement of weapons grade Uranium there isn’t going to be a better time to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/120 "2026-03-23T17:22:51Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Nope. It’s not even close to one. It is absolutely a religious war. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209.md?page=7)