Derek Thompson

Derek Thompson

The U.S. Went to War to Take Away Iran's Superweapon. It Gave Iran a New One.

Trump lost the country. The U.S. lost a half-hearted war. Israel lost an ally. The Middle East lost the illusion of security. Asia lost growth. Global trade lost a dependable artery.

Derek Thompson's avatar
Derek Thompson
Jun 25, 2026
∙ Paid
Toy soldiers face off on world map with flags.
Photo by Saifee Art on Unsplash

In February, the U.S. and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, striking hundreds of military targets and killing thousands of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, including Supreme Leader Khamenei. The White House and its defenders called their campaign a clear and unalloyed success, the latest display of a de…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Derek Thompson.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Derek Thompson · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture