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The Daily

The Killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader and the End of an Era in the Middle East

March 01, 2026 • 35m

Summary

⏱️ 13 min read

Overview

In this breaking news episode of The Daily, reporters Mark Mazzetti and David Sanger analyze the unprecedented U.S.-Israeli military assault on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Khamenei and multiple top officials. The attack represents the most aggressive U.S. military action against Iran in generations, aimed at toppling the regime. The episode explores how we reached this moment, the justifications used, the scale of the operation, Iran's capacity to respond, and the uncertain future that lies ahead—including risks of civil war, regional instability, and the potential reshaping of U.S. foreign policy doctrine.

The Scale and Significance of the Attack

The weekend strikes against Iran represent an unprecedented moment in U.S.-Middle East relations. For the first time since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the United States directly attacked Tehran's leadership compounds and killed the Supreme Leader. This isn't a limited military operation with careful red lines—it's a full-scale war with the explicit goal of regime change, something no previous administration was willing to attempt.

  • The U.S. and Israel launched the most aggressive military action against Iran in generations, killing Supreme Leader Khamenei and several top officials
  • This is the first time the U.S. has hit at the core of Tehran leadership compounds since the 1979 revolution
  • The ambitions of this conflict are extraordinary—Trump is trying to knock off the leadership and let Iran figure out what comes next
  • The operation involved a massive military buildup: two aircraft carriers, hundreds of bombers, fighter jets, and refuelers
" This is a full-blown war by the United States and Israel against Iran. Last summer, when the Israelis began a conflict, there were clear lines that they didn't want to cross. They didn't want to kill the Supreme Leader or topple the regime. The ambitions in this conflict are extraordinary. "

The Path to War: From Protests to Military Buildup

The current phase of conflict began with Iranian protests in January that killed thousands of demonstrators, prompting Trump to promise support for protesters and begin a massive military buildup. Simultaneously, Netanyahu made the case at Mar-a-Lago that last summer's strikes didn't finish the job. Even as forces amassed, the administration engaged in diplomatic talks with Iran over its nuclear program—talks that ultimately failed and provided the breaking point for military action.

  • The conflict phase started with Iranian protests in January where thousands were killed, leading Trump to declare support and begin military buildup
  • Netanyahu met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in December, requesting permission for Israel to strike Iranian ballistic missile sites in 2026
  • U.S. held diplomatic talks in Geneva, even offering to supply uranium for free to Iran forever, but Iranians turned it down
  • When diplomatic efforts failed and were reported back to Trump, that became the breaking point for military action

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