# Speculation for and/or Consequences to the US and Elsewhere for Engaging in the Bombing of Iran and Other Targets **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](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 "2026-03-04T22:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](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/1028210/281 "2026-03-24T22:55:41Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > The other two can wander pretty far and wide. If I can speculate (or query) on Mojtaba Khomenei…Can’t find out much about him. Curious how hardline he is. Hopefully at least a shade more moderate. Crossing fingers he doesn’t turn out to be some totally unhinged tyrannical zealot who starts going off about how His People are Willing to Die For The Cause kinda thing. Three guesses (and the first three don’t count) as to what The Cause is. Nuking first ---
**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 24, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](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/1028210/282 "2026-03-24T23:00:16Z")
I think it was reported that he was a hardliner and I doubt the death of his father, his sister and his wife at the hands of the U.S. will moderate him much… funny how that works. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](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/1028210/283 "2026-03-24T23:05:08Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Awakening terrorists in this current tangled mess does seem like a predictable consequence. Caving into terrorism gives the terrorists control and encourages it. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](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/1028210/284 "2026-03-24T23:05:56Z")
Hence my concern for the extent he might go to. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](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/1028210/285 "2026-03-24T23:06:54Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > If I can speculate (or query) on Mojtaba Khomenei… Have at. Not a problem in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](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/1028210/286 "2026-03-24T23:07:11Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Caving into terrorism gives the terrorists control and encourages it. Or maybe not awakening them in the first place might be a better place to go. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](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/1028210/287 "2026-03-24T23:08:04Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Have at. Not a problem in this thread. Thanks. Thought I saw a thread about it - guess not. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 11:10pm UTC](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/1028210/288 "2026-03-24T23:10:51Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > If I can speculate (or query) on Mojtaba Khomenei… I would speculate that his own political stance is irrelevant, because he’s been quietly couped by the IRGC and he’s now just a figurehead or, at least, a rubberstamp. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 11:16pm UTC](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/1028210/289 "2026-03-24T23:16:07Z")
Interesting. I just assumed he was in a postion to be as despotic as he wishes. EDIT - but not the case: > **[Mojtaba Khamenei alive but IRGC takes control of Iranian regime | The...](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890716)** > > “The more likely scenario is that the Revolutionary Guards are controlling him, not the other way around,” one well-informed source stated, adding that “in a few days, we will probably know more.” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](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/1028210/290 "2026-03-24T23:44:35Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Caving into terrorism gives the terrorists control and encourages it. Something that Iran knows, which is why it won’t give up. It’s just as much terrorism when _we_ do it. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 10:57am UTC](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/1028210/291 "2026-03-25T10:57:28Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > I would speculate that his own political stance is irrelevant, because he’s been quietly couped by the IRGC and he’s now just a figurehead or, at least, a rubberstamp. By the way, for this reason even if the regime lost its grip on power there’s still no guarantee that would lead to reopening the strait. If the revolutionary guard can and will act autonomously now, why wouldn’t they or a splinter group do it in a scenario where they no longer control Tehran? The non-diplomatic pure military victory for the US and Israel probably has to be regime change followed by full on deIRCGification before the global economy can even return to its prewar srate. Makes perfect sense why Iran has such a steep asking price for a diplomatic solution. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 12:04pm UTC](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/1028210/292 "2026-03-25T12:04:53Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > By the way, for this reason even if the regime lost its grip on power there’s still no guarantee that would lead to reopening the strait. If the revolutionary guard can and will act autonomously now, why wouldn’t they or a splinter group do it in a scenario where they no longer control Tehran? There’s also the issue that we’re bombing them and we’ve proven we can’t be trusted to honestly negotiate, so even if every IRGC member spontaneously dropped dead, the people replacing them would have _just_ as much reason to hate us and keep the strait closed. And go for nukes if they can. The collapse of the IRGC would have a good chance of eventually improving things _in Iran,_ but there’s no reason to think any replacement short of a puppet dictator imposed by us (again) would make Iran less hostile to us. Because they _should_ be hostile to us. ---
**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 25, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](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/1028210/293 "2026-03-25T19:02:52Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The collapse of the IRGC would have a good chance of eventually improving things _in Iran_ I wasn’t aware till recently that the IRGC is much more than a military force, but has quite a range of governmental and economic/commercial interests, to the point of being a parallel government (cf the military in Pakistan and Myanmar). Not so easy to disentangle and supplant (come to think of that, note how in Russia the KGB types are running the show once more ). ---
**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 26, 2026, 3:44am UTC](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/1028210/294 "2026-03-26T03:44:47Z")
[Philippines declares a national emergency due to the war.](https://manilastandard.net/news/314719547/pbbm-declares-national-energy-emergency.html) > [@](#): > > PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday declared a state of national energy emer-gency, creating an “UPLIFT” committee to coordinate the government’s response to the fuel crisis and mitigate the impact of the Middle East conflict on the country. > > Marcos signed Executive Order No. 110, citing heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as threats to the Philippines’ fuel supply and energy stability. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 7:28pm UTC](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/1028210/295 "2026-03-26T19:28:53Z")
A lot of MAGA politicians and followers have had a pro-Russian stance. I’m wondering if the revelation that Russia is assisting Iran target our men and women in uniform will change that attitude. I don’t expect it to change for the likes of Tulsi Gabbard or even Trump, but other politicians and MAGA adherents, who so love the armed forces, will be pissed. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](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/1028210/296 "2026-03-26T20:52:18Z")
The Russian propaganda game has been good enough to get them this far; I have every confidence that Putin’s keyboard warriors will continue to be able to manipulate our citizenry into firmly defending historically untenable positions. In 1980, no one would have thought Republicans would reject science and the authority of scientists or favor incompetent bombast over solid credentials. The doublethink involved in supporting Russia even while they aid and abet our enemies is minor in comparison. ---
**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 27, 2026, 2:28am UTC](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/1028210/297 "2026-03-27T02:28:01Z")
So Trump has [given Iran 10 days to bow to his wishes](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/26/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump) before he blows more shit up. Wow, not even the usual two weeks! I speculate that this is bullshit, and there are plans afoot for an attack before this, using the thousands of troops that are currently on the way. ---
**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 27, 2026, 2:36am UTC](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/1028210/298 "2026-03-27T02:36:20Z")
First it was 2 days, then 5, now 10… ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 2:48am UTC](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/1028210/299 "2026-03-27T02:48:28Z")
Yeah, he’s manipulating the oil market again. Last week or so he had a 48 hour deadline that was as meaningless as anything he says. And yet, the market responds. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 2:55am UTC](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/1028210/300 "2026-03-27T02:55:51Z")
IMHO, one unforeseen consequence of this war is that Iran may realize that any hopes for gradual acquisition of slow gradual Nagasaki Fat Man plutonium-implosion nukes is doomed to failure due to decades of Israeli-American sabotage and bombing and that no such nuclear plan can ever reach fruition without being ruined in some way, due to its slow gradualness. Iran may then decide to go the much faster, simpler, Hiroshima Little Boy approach, the gun-type assembly that just involves ramming pieces of fissile material together in a tube. While such a nuke can’t be used in missiles, it at least gives Iran the political benefit of a swift nuke detonation underground. Once that first test is done, then it’s hands-off for Israel and America; just like how nobody has ever been willing to do anything against North Korea since its first 2006 nuke test, except sanctions. [Previous page](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.md?page=14) [Next page](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.md?page=16)