In a lively discussion three experts analysed the US and Israeli attacks, covering everything from the historical context and motivations to the political implications
12:07, Fri, Mar 6, 2026 Updated: 14:52, Fri, Mar 6, 2026
A panel of experts was asked if they believed the world is "closer" to a nuclear war (Image: Getty Images)
A former CIA officer has issued a stark one-word verdict on the possibility of the Iran conflict sparking all-out nuclear war. In catastrophic scenes that have played out since Saturday, February 28, as part of Operation Epic Fury, the US and Israel have conducted strikes against the Middle Eastern nation of Iran in efforts to topple the Islamic Republic.
It led to the deaths of military officials and most notably, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the regime's supreme leader, who was killed in his compound in the Iranian capital of Tehran; Iran has since launched sweeping retaliatory attacks across the Gulf. As the world comes to terms with the conflict, Steven Bartlett sat down with former CIA officer Andrew Bustamante, nuclear war expert Annie Jacobsen, and global affairs analyst Benjamin Radd for an "emergency roundtable" episode of The Diary Of A CEO. In what proved to be a lively discussion that spanned more than two hours, the experts analysed the attacks, covering everything from the historical context and motivations to the political implications.
Andrew previously served in nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) operations (Image: EverydaySpy)
It’s hardly surprising that the topic eventually turned to whether these strikes might ignite a larger conflict, or even, in the worst case, nuclear war. Steven asked the panel if they believed the world is now "closer" to a nuclear war due to the recent attacks.
Andrew said: "One hundred percent. And I've got, like, there's proof of that all over the headlines today because France is deploying air-launch nuclear warheads. Air-launched nuclear warheads. That means small warheads that fit on the ends of airplane rockets.
"They're deploying them all over Europe. That means France is now taking its nuclear arsenal and spreading it across its European allies. The more nuclear proliferation, the more risk of nuclear war."
Annie argued that this had "nothing to do with Iran", as Benjamin highlighted the war in Ukraine, but, suggesting there could be more than meets the eye to France's recent actions, Andrew claimed that it took place "two days after Iran".
Kids walk around an Iranian missile after it fell near Qamishli International Airport (Image: Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
She clarified her argument, claiming that the threat of nuclear war comes from the war in Ukraine and "comes from Russia", as in this case, we have a president of a superpower who has actually "threatened the use" of such weapons.
Annie alleged that Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapon, so it's therefore "not a nuclear threat", but Andrew, who previously served in nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) operations, said he and Annie speak a "different nuclear language".
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He said: "Russia is launching intercontinental ballistic missiles that can't be intercepted. It's got the Oreshnik. What the hell is it going to be afraid of? A warhead on the tip of an airplane. It's not. That's a tactical nuke. That's a battlefield nuke."
Annie asked Andrew what his point was, to which he replied: "My point is that the deployment of a nuclear weapon is nuclear war." She noted that Andrew was referring to the "manoeuvring" of weaponry, but Andrew argued that this is the "definition of a deployment".
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English (US) · 