Ideology and principles clash in Trump’s Iran war | Letters

Lt Col (retd) Rob Symonds and David Flint respond to an article by Nesrine Malik on the motivations driving the conflict between the US and Iran

Nesrine Malik is correct in highlighting the differences between the US and Iran in their understanding of conflict as a means to an end (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/06/donald-trump-us-israel-war-iran-sixth-week">Trump’s chaotic war on Iran has dragged into its sixth week because he is fighting an adversary he doesn’t understand, 6 April).

However, she fails to outline the distinctly different ends that the two protagonists believe in.

The US has since 1945 represented the west’s vision of wealth, influence and opportunity based on material ownership and thus power.

Iran as a state since 1979 has built a regime based on a creed enmeshed in an ideology that is dogmatically enforced.

The US especially, but also, to only a slightly lesser degree, the west, worships powerful figures and lavish riches.

Iran and several non-state groups place single-minded adherence to cause and obedience as a power beyond the west’s comprehension.