Karim Sadjadpour: “The U.S.-Iran war—or, to be accurate, its latest, and most dramatic iteration—grew from a high-stakes exchange of miscalculations between two men. Donald Trump and Ali Khamenei have little in common except for a vainglorious hubris that has distorted their strategic choices. For Trump, the conflict is a high-risk, high-reward gambit—the ultimate deal, with the Middle East as the table. For Khamenei, whose official compound was targeted by air strikes, it is something simpler and older: a fight for survival.”

“Trump’s hubris is a matter of performative strength. He has based his brand on being the ultimate dealmaker, making military action more palatable to him than even the appearance of having been out-negotiated. Khamenei’s hubris is a matter of ideological rigidity. He sees his theocracy as divinely mandated and has just presided over a historic mass murder to secure his rule. His focus is not on appearances, but on the cold mechanics of survival.”

President Trump told the Washington Post early Saturday that his main concern is “freedom” for the Iranian people as the U.S. launched military strikes in the country.

Said Trump: “All I want is freedom for the people.”

“President Trump on Saturday outlined a set of far-reaching aims for the current U.S. military operation against Iran. He called on Iranians to topple the regime and take over their country after the extensive U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign ends,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Trump’s declaration of broad aims is likely to rattle U.S. allies in the region, including Gulf states and Turkey, who are worried about a wider regional war that could bring instability to their doorsteps.”

New York Times: “Leaders in Europe and around the world on Saturday urged all sides to exercise restraint after the United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran.”

New York Times: “As they made their public case for another American military campaign against Iran, President Trump and his aides asserted that Iran had restarted its nuclear program, had enough available nuclear material to build a bomb within days and was developing long-range missiles that will soon be capable of hitting the United States.”

“All three of these claims are either false or unproven.”

“The United States and Israel on Saturday launched a major attack on Iran, with President Trump vowing to devastate the country’s military, eliminate its nuclear program and bring about a change in its government,” the New York Times reports.

“The American-led attack appeared to herald a much broader regional crisis. Iranian news media reported that Iran had targeted at least four U.S. military bases across the Persian Gulf — including in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which said they had come under attack.”

In a video statement posted at 2:30 a.m. ET, Trump accused Iran of conducting “mass terror” ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and declared: “We’re not going to put up with it any longer.”

Trump encouraged the people of Iran to remain in their homes during the bombing and “when we are finished, take over your government, it will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”

Washington Post: U.S. and Israel launch attack on Iran as Trump calls for regime change.

Politico: Trump’s congressional critics denounce Iran strikes.

Bloomberg: Netanyahu says Iran operation will continue “as long as necessary.”

BBC: US and Israel carry out joint attack on Iran as Tehran launches retaliatory strikes.

“President Trump posted a news story early Saturday on social media accusing Iran of trying to interfere to stop him winning the 2020 and 2024 U.S. presidential elections,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

President Trump suggested the U.S. could carry out a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, as the president has used a fuel blockade to increase the pressure on the communist regime in Havana, The Hill reports.

Said Trump: “The Cuban government is talking with us. They’re in a big deal of trouble, as you know. They have no money, no anything right now. Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba.”

“President Trump on Friday expressed frustration about nuclear talks with Iran, but said he hasn’t decided yet whether to launch a military campaign,” Axios reports.

“With the region on high alert and growing signals that war could be imminent, Trump is maintaining ambiguity and sending messages that could be interpreted as either alarming or reassuring.”

“Yet several signs point to war: The ongoing U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, Trump’s military briefings, the evacuation of staff from the U.S. embassy in Israel (a potential target for Iranian retaliation), and the disappointment felt by Trump envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff after talks in Geneva yesterday.”

CNN: Trump claimed Iran is building missiles that could soon hit the US. Sources say that’s not backed up by U.S. intelligence.