“The cause of violence is not ignorance. It is self-interest.” – Rev. William Sloan Coffin Jr.
As we all know (unless you’ve been living under a rock), President Trump and his administration have waged a war against Iran. Conflict first sparked when the U.S. and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran, killing the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28. Khamenei has led the country since 1989 and was killed in the first wave of attacks. Iran responded, firing a set of missiles at Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf. The fighting quickly escalated, spreading to Lebanon, with casualties and damage mounting on all sides. On March 8th, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named the country’s leader. Since then, the US and Iran have agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire that started on 7 April.
“Why did the U.S. start this war?” you may ask. After long-held negotiations, a conclusion was reached in Washington and Jerusalem that diplomacy had been exhausted, and that a nuclear-armed Iran posed an unacceptable security threat to the United States, Israel, America’s Arab allies, and global security. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military operations (Epic Fury and Roaring Lion) against the Iranian regime, targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missile infrastructure, air defense systems, military production sites, and senior leadership.
Approximately 13 U.S. soldiers have been killed, and over a hundred are wounded. After President Trump posted a VERY “wordy” response to Iranians refusing to open the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. As of April 13, 2026, Gas prices are up 40%, leaving many Americans unhappy. But there’s one question all Americans should be asking themselves right now: “Is it worth it?”
