After Benjamin Netanyahu struck Iran’s nuclear facilities, and Iran retaliated, we have been brought startlingly close to World War 3. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been predictably erratic in his attitude toward the war. A message from the State Department indicated “Trump has no intention of thrusting the US military into what would be its sixth war in the greater Middle East in nearly a quarter of a century,” Daniel R. Depetris reported this week. At the same time, John Nichols explained, “Trump was sending signals that caused at least some analysts to suggest that he might increase US military support for Israel’s war efforts.”

Unfortunately, “Trump seems to be the only figure capable of ending the ongoing war between the regimes,” writes Tara Kangarlou. But he doesn’t seem to be on his way to stopping it. (“We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” his recent post on Truth Social reads.)

Whatever happens next, it’s important we remember that damage has already been done in Iran, where much of our poetry editor Kaveh Akbar’s family and friends remain. Netanyahu may say this hawkishness is about nuclear threat, but Akbar begs to differ: “Netanyahu knows already how he will be judged by the dead. He’s trying to win over the not-dead-yet. Don’t fall for it.”

-Alana Pockros

Engagement Editor, The Nation

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