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How Trump took U.S. to war with Iran

Source: japantimes.co.jp

TL;DR

A forthcoming book details how President Trump approved U.S. strikes on Iran after a classified February 11 Situation Room briefing by Netanyahu.
Mossad pitched quick destruction of Iran's missiles, regime weakening without Hormuz closure, and potential uprisings aided by Kurds and opposition.
Trump dismissed regime change doubts as Israel's issue, overriding skeptical U.S. intelligence and advisers like Vance to greenlight the joint operation.

The story at a glance

The article, based on reporting for the book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, recounts internal White House deliberations leading to U.S. entry into war with Iran on February 28. Key figures include President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Vice President JD Vance. It is reported now amid an ongoing five-week conflict that has spiked energy prices and drawn criticism. This follows a prior 12-day war with Iran in June.

Key points

Netanyahu's team, including Mossad chief David Barnea on video, presented intelligence claiming Iran's regime was ripe for collapse via U.S.-Israeli strikes, showing a video montage of potential leaders like Reza Pahlavi.
They argued strikes could destroy Iran's ballistic missiles in weeks, prevent Hormuz closure, spark protests with Mossad help, and involve Kurdish ground incursions from Iraq.
Trump reacted positively, saying "Sounds good to me," which advisers saw as a green light despite U.S. intelligence later calling regime change scenarios "farcical" and "bullshit."
Rubio, Ratcliffe, Gen. Dan Caine, and Vance expressed skepticism; Caine noted Israelis "oversell" plans knowing they need U.S. support.
Trump brushed off regime change risks as "their problem," prioritizing his instincts over advisers; the small meeting excluded most Cabinet to avoid leaks.
The pitch built on months of Trump-Netanyahu alignment on hawkish Iran views, more than some U.S. aides realized.

Details and context

The February 11 meeting came after Netanyahu pressed for months for major assault on Iran, amid its nuclear advances and missile buildup. U.S. intercepts were seen as costlier and slower to replenish than Iran's cheap drones and missiles, raising inaction risks.

Netanyahu stressed existential threat from 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and argued delay would let Iran shield its nuclear program. This followed a June war, where Trump was impressed by prior Israeli pitches.

U.S. analysts quickly vetted the plan overnight, confirming feasibility for decapitation strikes and power projection crippling but rejecting uprising and regime change as unrealistic. The war has since caused global energy chaos, with Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz.

Key quotes

Trump to Netanyahu: "Sounds good to me."[[1]](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/08/world/politics/how-trump-took-us-war-iran/)[[2]](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/08/world/politics/how-trump-took-us-war-iran)
CIA Director Ratcliffe on regime change: "farcical"; Rubio: "In other words, it’s bullshit."[[1]](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/08/world/politics/how-trump-took-us-war-iran/)
Gen. Caine: "This is, in my experience, standard operating procedure for the Israelis. They oversell, and their plans are not always well-developed."[[1]](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/08/world/politics/how-trump-took-us-war-iran/)

Why it matters

A U.S.-led war in the Middle East risks wider regional escalation, energy shocks, and long-term Iranian entrenchment. It strains U.S. alliances, with Trump pressing Japan and NATO for more support amid domestic political fallout like protests and midterm risks. Watch for de-escalation signals or intensified strikes around Trump's deadlines, though prolonged conflict remains possible if no deal emerges.