On Friday, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, sending roughly 200 fighter jets to hit more than a hundred sites across Iran – including parts of its nuclear program.

Israel says the attack was “pre-emptive”, meant to address an immediate and inevitable threat on Iran’s part to construct a nuclear bomb.

As attacks from both countries continue, scheduled talks between Iran and the US over the future of Iran’s nuclear program have been cancelled.

Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom, on why Israel chose this moment to strike, how it’s angling for regime change in Iran and what it will take to de-escalate the conflict.

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Guest: Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom.

Photo: AP Photo/Leo Correa

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Episode 350: White Martians and the Butter-gate