Why understanding the difference between Trump’s objectives and Netanyahu’s matters for how (and whether) this conflict ends

America’s public objection to Israel’s recent targeting of the Shahran oil depot in northwest Tehran – a crucial element of Iran’s military-linked infrastructure – should remind us that although they may look the same, there are two wars being fought in Iran today: Trump’s War and Bibi’s War.

One can be forgiven for confusing the two, given how the current round of violence began and how the political principals are adding to the fog of war. But if we want to understand the motivations of the parties Iran calls its Great and Little Satan, and what would enable them to bring this war to an end, it would be helpful to distinguish between the two.

But first, a bit of history worth reviewing whenever one talks about Iran’s relationship with the United States and Israel: Iran declared war on the US and Israel 46 years ago, immediately upon the establishment of the Islamic Republic. It was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini himself, the founder of the Islamic Republic, who led the chants “Death to America! Death to Israel!” It was the Ayatollah himself who decided to devote resources — even then — to propping up military forces across the region that would serve as proxies to advance his perpetual revolution and genocide of the Jewish State. Iran has killed over a thousand Americans since, and hundreds of Israelis too (thousands if you count October 7).

I find recalling that history important because it is often missing from media reports on the current round of fighting. It provides crucial context for understanding why so many Israelis support this war despite........

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