How Trump Decided to Go to War

President Trump’s embrace of military intervention in Iran was triggered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s determination to end diplomatic negotiations. Our investigative reporter Mark Mazzetti describes how few of Mr. Trump’s advisers oppose it.

Written by: Mark Mazzetti, Leila Medina, Sutton Raphael, Joey Sendaydiego, Jon Hazell, Rafaela Balster and Whitney Shefte

March 3, 2026