Why Are We Really At War with Iran? | Mark Dubowitz

As coordinated American and Israeli strikes on Iran continue, I wanted to sit down with Mark Dubowitz, the CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a leading expert on Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. sanctions policy.

I asked Mark the most pressing questions to emerge since the major conflict began over the weekend: How does this serve American interests? Why did President Trump choose to strike now? And what comes next?

Mark and I discussed what Iran actually wants—whether its nuclear program is meant as leverage, deterrence, or a weapon it intends to use—and what American policymakers are realistically trying to accomplish. Is the objective regime change, degrading Iran’s capabilities, long-term containment, or some uneasy equilibrium? We also examined how China’s growing ties with Tehran factor into Washington’s calculations.

Mark unpacked Israel’s strategic thinking, the integration of U.S.–Israel intelligence and military operations, and the degree to which Israeli priorities shaped American decision-making. We discussed the complex effects across the region, including for Saudi Arabia and the future of the Abraham Accords.

Finally, we consider possible futures: regime survival, internal reform, or regional normalization—and what a freer, more prosperous Iran might look like.