Do You Support the United States' Ongoing Military Action in Iran?

This is a cross-post from the Straight Talk About Politics Group.
Please sign up for the event in the original group: https://www.meetup.com/straight-talk-about-politics-and-more/events/313748584/ .
The Zoom link will only be posted there to help guard against Zoom bombers. Thank you for understanding.

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury, a massive joint military campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran. This intervention, which included over 900 strikes in its first 12 hours alone, represents the most significant escalation in the Middle East in decades. As the conflict continues to unfold, it has sparked intense debate over its strategic necessity, legal standing, and humanitarian impact.
Proponents of the strikes, led by the Trump administration, argue that the action was a necessary preemptive measure to ensure both regional and global security.

· Nuclear Deterrence: A primary justification offered by the U.S. and Israel is the continuing threat of Iran's nuclear program. In the aftermath of the attacks by the US and Israel in mid 2025 on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the negotiations to reach a permanent deal failed in early 2026. Officials have claimed that Iran has since restarted the effort to weaponize its 60% enriched uranium stockpile.

· Regime Change and Human Rights: The strikes followed months of brutal internal repression in Iran, where thousands of protesters were killed by security forces. The U.S. has framed the military action as an effort to support the Iranian people by toppling a "terrorist-run" regime.

· Neutralizing Regional Threats: By targeting ballistic missile infrastructure and the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) leadership, proponents argue the U.S. is permanently degrading Iran's ability to destabilize the region through its "Axis of Resistance" proxies.
Critics of Operation Epic Fury, including various international legal experts and humanitarian organizations, raise grave concerns regarding the legality and consequences of the war.

· Violation of Sovereignty: Many international observers describe the strikes—particularly the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—as a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, arguing it constitutes an unprovoked war of choice.

· Humanitarian Cost: The "decapitation strikes" and infrastructure bombings have also incurred collateral damage. A notable tragedy occurred early in the campaign when a strike near a naval base in Minab killed over 160 people at a girls' school, highlighting the high civilian price of the conflict.

· Global Instability: Opponents point to the immediate economic fallout. Iran has retaliated by firing ballistic missiles and engaging drones not only against Israel and the nearby US bases, but also most Persian Gulf states and the regional oil infrastructure. This has caused a closing of the Hormuz Strait and a surge in global energy prices, threatening a possible global recession.
So, what do you think? Come and share your opinion in a passionate, but respectful discussion. Or just bring your popcorn, sit back, and listen to the others talk it over. We’ll have a designated speaker on each side of the motion giving opening and closing statements, and an open floor discussion in between.

Zoom credentials will be provided on the day of the event.