Many critics view the Iran war itself as an insult to a fast-eroding rules-based global system. And in his first term, Trump ordered the killing of Iranian security chief Qasem Soleimani — one of the most important Iranian leaders — at Baghdad airport. Later in the conflict, US intelligence analysts created a pack of cards to assign value to regime leaders whom Washington wanted captured or killed. Instead of capitulating, Iran reacted to the killing of senior regime leaders with defiance. Bader Al-Saif, an intellectual historian, said on a Middle East Institute conference call Wednesday that Iranian leaders could reinforce their defiance.

Source: CNN March 19, 2026 07:58 UTC