What the Trump administration says about why it went to war with Iran

Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth look on as President Trump meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the White House on March 3.

The Trump administration says it is "laser focused" and mission driven, but the messaging has been varied. The range of cited motivations for striking Iran now are sometimes at odds with each other.

(Image credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)