Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears among his supporters, in a photo provided by his office
on June 26, 2025. The United States says Khamenei was killed during the strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026. Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran via Getty Images
If President Trump’s stated objective is regime change in Iran, then the Feb. 28 strike represents not a tactical escalation but a strategic decision of the highest order. It moves beyond periodic deterrent strikes and toward dismantling the source of regional instability itself. That is an ambitious aim. It is also, arguably, a logical one.
Bryan Brulotte
Author
Bryan Brulotte is chairman of Sterling-Trust, a private equity firm based in Ottawa. He holds a doctorate in business and brings over four decades of experience spanning military service and senior roles in the private and public sectors.
