The Global Story, The Global Story, I wargamed Iran for the Pentagon - here is how it could end

The Global Story

The Global Story

I wargamed Iran for the Pentagon - here is how it could end

2 April 2026

29 minutes

Available for over a year

Roughly 10,000 additional US troops have now arrived in the Middle East, giving President Trump options ranging from an invasion of Kharg Island to an elaborate special forces operations to seize Iran’s ‘nuclear dust’.

For years, the Pentagon has run war games to try and plan for what might happen if the US went to war with Iran. Our guest, Ilan Goldenberg, was in the room during the Obama years, taking part.

Ilan Goldenberg is Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at J Street. Previously, he was an adviser on Iran for President Barack Obama, and for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Producers: Lucy Pawle and Viv Jones

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: President Donald Trump. Credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)