# United States and Israel are bombing Iran {for current/ongoing events, past/future have specific threads} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [February 28, 2026, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071 "2026-02-28T07:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 41
**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 13, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/806 "2026-03-13T22:22:59Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > You seem to think that the Iranian government will reasonably accept losing power without doing everything it can to make it as Pyrrhic a victory for their opponents as they can. You don’t understand - bombing the island would be a Pyrrhic victory for _Iran_, except without the victory part. The island means nothing to the U.S. The smart thing to do would to have the Marines take it, rig the facilities to explode, and then dig in - long range missiles and drones can’t do much damage to entrenched infantry, especially if they bring SeaBees, and those launching them would expose themselves to U.S. airstrikes. Look, this is just armchair strategizing here - I obviously don’t know the sides’ actual capabilities. But if it works, the island can serve as excellent leverage against the Iranian regime after the fighting stops. ---
**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 13, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/807 "2026-03-13T22:39:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You don’t understand - bombing the island would be a Pyrrhic victory for _Iran_, except without the victory part. _Not_ bombing it would be more of a loss for them. They know perfectly well they can’t win a standup fight against a superpower, so all they can do it hit us whenever we give them a chance. They’d likely blow it all up themselves rather than let us take the island intact if they have the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/808 "2026-03-13T22:50:56Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You don’t understand - bombing the island would be a Pyrrhic victory for _Iran_, except without the victory part. How’d that argument work against suicide bombers in Israel? ---
**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 13, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/809 "2026-03-13T22:55:19Z")
If Iran gets the choice between losing without destroying the island, and losing destroying the island (taking a lot of enemies with it), why wouldn’t they destroy it? If defeat is assured, better to make the enemy’s victory as bitter as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/810 "2026-03-13T23:10:25Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@dtilque](#): > > > > They might be looking at grabbing Kharg Island. > > I’ve seen that speculation, but that would seem to be a strange target since it’s way deep inside the Gulf rather than at the Straits Trump just announced that the US has struck multiple military targets on the island, so maybe that’s where they are going after all. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/811 "2026-03-13T23:19:03Z")
From his latest “truth”: > [@](#): > > Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island. Our Weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the World has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision. During my First Term, and currently, I rebuilt our Military into the Most Lethal, Powerful, and Effective Force, by far, anywhere in the World. Iran has NO ability to defend anything that we want to attack — There is nothing they can do about it! Iran will NEVER have a nuclear weapon, nor will it have the ability to threaten the United States of America, the Middle East or, for that matter, the World! Iran’s Military, and all others involved with this Terrorist Regime, would be wise to lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP ---
**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 14, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/812 "2026-03-14T00:04:51Z")
The President of the United States is not a credible source. Is there independent confirmation? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/813 "2026-03-14T00:12:06Z")
I don’t see how that island really changes anything. That’s not how Iran threatens the Strait. Iran pretty much just has to dig into their own territory and threaten a few ships in the Strait each day until Trump gets bored or sick of rising prices. That’s why this is such a difficult task (and such a stupid choice to go to war). It’s monumentally easy for Iran to continuously threaten ships in the Strait (just need speedboats and small arms), and monumentally difficult for the US or anyone else to eliminate that threat (would need to escort every ship or take all the Iranian territory along the Strait). I went through the Strait of Hormuz four times while I was in the Navy and I vividly remember the briefings of the danger and threats. What would taking that island change? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/814 "2026-03-14T00:17:17Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > The President of the United States is not a credible source. Is there independent confirmation? Good point. I searched and all the reporting is “According to Trump”. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/815 "2026-03-14T00:32:58Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > The President of the United States is not a credible source. Is there independent confirmation? No. I think he is a credible source on the fact of the island being bombed, but not on specific targeting. ---
**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 14, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/816 "2026-03-14T00:53:22Z")
[Iran’s president sets terms to end the war.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/iran-president-sets-terms-end-154129665.html) > [@](#): > > Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has laid out terms for ending the war with the United States and Israel in what analysts say is a possible sign of de-escalation from Tehran as the US-Israel war on Iran entered its 13th day on Thursday. > > In a post on Wednesday on social site X, Pezeshkian said he had spoken to his counterparts in Russia and Pakistan, and that he had confirmed “Iran’s commitment to peace”. > > “The only way to end this war – ignited by the Zionist regime & US – is recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm int’l guarantees against future aggression,” Pezeshkian wrote. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/817 "2026-03-14T01:12:38Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What would taking that island change? Cut off oil shipments to China in Chinese tankers. Which I understand are being allowed passage through the Strait. That would also cut off money to Iran, although it would also make the energy crisis worse. Trump and advisors may not care about that last. ---
**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 14, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/818 "2026-03-14T01:17:09Z")
Simply detaining one or two tankers would cut off oil shipments from Iran without having to occupy any islands, wouldn’t it? why taking the risk of sending troops? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/819 "2026-03-14T01:28:53Z")
“Simply” is carrying a lot of weight in your plan. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/820 "2026-03-14T01:55:45Z")
Just because I was curious, I looked it up. Kharg Island is about a third the size of Manhattan. ---
**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 14, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/821 "2026-03-14T01:59:36Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Cut off oil shipments to China in Chinese tankers. Presumably that would add China to the list of involved parties, which seems a poor idea. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/822 "2026-03-14T02:04:35Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Presumably that would add China to the list of involved parties, which seems a poor idea. It wouldn’t explicitly involve China. Not like detaining Chinese flagged ships would. ---
**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 14, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/823 "2026-03-14T02:08:33Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > It wouldn’t explicitly involve China. Why would China care? An attack on their oil is an attack on their oil. Nobody will sweat the legalisms in a post-legal world. And that’s assuming they don’t send escorts or offer to let those ships officially fly Chinese flags, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/824 "2026-03-14T02:57:53Z")
Which is why an at-sea blockade wouldn’t work. Third parties friendly to Iran challenge it, and either the US backs down or boards and siezes a neutral non-belligerent’s tanker. No bueno. Someone in the administration must have surely gotten that point across. But occupying the oil terminal and shutting down operations would. It’s not like Chinese stevedores are going ashore and starting up the oil transfer gear to fill up the tanker. “Closed for all business”. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/825 "2026-03-14T03:50:18Z")
**Moderating:** A reminder, consequences and speculation belong in: > [@Speculation for Consequences to the US for Engaging in the Bombing of Iran and Other Targets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-consequences-to-the-us-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210): > > If you have thoughts about what the consequences will be to the US and its citizens as a result of our bombings of Iran and other targets, this is the thread for it. Which @What_Exit pointed out just 12 hours ago. Please take such discussions to that thread, unless it’s an actively developing situation (such as Kharg island at the moment). Yes, one can turn to the other in a fast moving situation so we’ve been giving a lot of benefit of the doubt. But recently there’s been a lot of backsliding. No warnings at _this_ time, but if we have to keep reminding the thread every twelve hours, that’s likely coming. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=40) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=42)