President Donald Trump's surprise air strikes on Iran are showing signs of upending the global order once again. Facing darkening prospects for November's midterm elections amid the Supreme Court's ruling against reciprocal tariffs, renewed scrutiny of files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein, an ICE shooting of an American citizen in Minneapolis, and rising prices from tariff pass-throughs, Trump has abandoned the non-interventionist principles he championed during his reelection campaign and is pivoting toward showcasing foreign policy achievements.
While last year Trump shook the world with tariffs backed by overwhelming economic power, this year he is subduing anti-American nations one after another with unmatched military force. This process has also served as a strong check against China's efforts to reorganize the world into a bipolar system with the United States.
Following the successive "pinpoint removals" of Venezuelan and Iranian leaders, some analysts suggest Cuba or North Korea could be next. If Trump succeeds in turning the Iranian regime pro-American, it could sway U.S. public opinion and increase military pressure on anti-American nations. Geopolitical concerns would likely heighten global financial market instability.
U.S. Eliminates Khamenei 15 Hours After Strikes Begin
On February 28 (local time), the United States and Israel launched a major military operation against Iran, simultaneously striking Tehran and other major cities including Qom, Karaj, and Qeshm. The operation, codenamed "Epic Fury," came eight months after the "12-day war" that struck three Iranian nuclear facilities through Israel last June.
The strikes were launched immediately after third-round nuclear negotiations with Iran in Geneva, Switzerland, ended without progress on February 26. According to Al Jazeera, a senior Iranian official said at the talks that Iran "categorically rejects permanent enrichment suspension, nuclear facility dismantlement, or uranium stockpile transfers" — a position at odds with U.S. proposals.
Within 15 hours of the strikes, U.S. forces successfully eliminated Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader who had ruled Iran with an iron fist for 37 years since June 1989.
"One of the most evil people in history, Supreme Leader Khamenei, is dead," Trump announced on Truth Social. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed his forces "destroyed the Supreme Leader's residence and killed senior officials."
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) also struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command and control facilities, Iranian air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.
"48 Iranian Leaders Eliminated" — CIA Intelligence and AI 'Claude' Enable Swift Operation
Trump monitored the military operation from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. In a Fox News interview on March 1, he said 48 Iranian leaders were killed in the U.S.-Israeli strikes.
According to The New York Times, the CIA tracked Khamenei's movements precisely, identifying the location and timing of leadership meetings. The targeted compound housed the Iranian presidential office, the Supreme Leader's office, and the National Security Council — the heart of Iranian power. Military and intelligence chiefs were gathered there, including IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Anthropic's AI model "Claude" was again used in the operation for intelligence assessment, target identification, and battlefield simulation. Claude has become virtually the only AI used in classified U.S. military systems and was also deployed in the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro.
Historical Context
The United States and Iran maintained friendly relations until the 1920s-1940s, when Iran pursued Western-style modernization.
