With U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran followed by Tehran's retaliation across the region,

the U.S. is now engaged in open conflict with Iran.

The question many Americans are asking is are we, once again, at war in the Middle East.

Hello and welcome to USA Today is The Excerpt.

I'm Dana Taylor.

Today is Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

What does an open conflict with Iran mean for the US in terms of military commitment

and risks to American troops serving overseas?

Joining me now to share her insights

on what is quickly becoming a widening conflict

in the Middle East is USA Today White House correspondent,

Francesca Chambers.

It's good to speak with you, Francesca.

Thanks, Dana.

Francesca, for months, President Donald Trump

has ratcheted up pressure on Iran

for a new nuclear deal. Has a Trump administration made clear

both why the U.S. decided to strike Iran and why now? In his first public remarks from the White

House since the war began, President Trump said on Monday that the Trump administration tried to negotiate with Iran, that nuclear pact

that you were referring to, but Iran did not heed the United States warnings not to rebuild

its nuclear program. So in justifying the strikes, the president brought up both that nuclear

program, but he also talked

...