On February 28th, the United States and Israel launched an unprovoked attack on Iran. They dropped bombs on various cities across the country and called for a regime change. The first wave of attacks killed 175 people, most of whom were children, when a school was hit. The Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was one of the many killed. In response to these lethal attacks, Iran has fired missiles at Israel. Many middle eastern countries have gotten involved in the bombing and the Trump administration has stated that the bombing will continue for weeks.

While the President has justified this series of attacks by saying that the choice was designed to degrade Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities, several lawyers have challenged the legality of this decision. One professor of International law at the University of Reading, Marko Milanovic, agreed that Iran may pose a threat to the United States. However, he also stated that “Using force would require a basis in self defense.” Even though Marco Rubio, the current US secretary of state, used the legal concept of “imminent threat” to justify the attack, it was proven by the 2025 assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency that Iran is at least a decade away from being able to produce long-range missiles powerful enough to reach the US. Trump has also not provided public evidence of any threat, making the war illegal.

This war has also quickly become one of the biggest economic headaches worldwide. Fuel prices could soar and stay elevated for months. This will cause groceries and other shipped goods to become more expensive. In turn, consumers and businesses could choose to spend less due to the rising costs. This would put a huge strain on economic growth. The price of oil is one of the biggest worries amongst the public, which at one point surged above $100 a barrel. This turbulence has prompted fear amongst many worldwide.

Iran’s first priority in this war is to survive. To do this, they will want to drive up the cost of the war and force Trump to declare victory and go home. According to diplomats and analysts, Iran is working to move the battlefield from their country to neighboring countries. They aim to disrupt the economies of the Persian Gulf and drive up energy prices and inflation. They will also be attempting to exhaust the number of expensive missile interceptors held by its enemies.

It is unknown what exactly is coming next in this war and much uncertainty on how it will end. Many are uneasy about all that comes with regime change. Others are worried about Iran’s ballistic missile programs and its remaining arsenal. Even the American deaths that have come from the war have not deterred President Trump from that war. However, what this all means for the freedom and prosperity of the Iranian people is the most difficult question of all.

Cites –

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/world/europe/iran-war-strategy-trump-israel.html

https://afsc.org/news/what-you-need-know-about-us-war-iran

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/04/trump-administration-illegal-war-iran-experts

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/business/economy/trump-iran-oil-economy-fallout.html

https://www.cfr.org/articles/whats-next-for-the-war-in-iran

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/08/794404894/president-trump-to-deliver-statement-on-iran