David E. Sanger

Thank you.

Good to be back, Rachel.

It certainly feels like that, Rachel.

After all, the United States, for the first time, hit at the core of Tehran, the leadership compounds, and the Iranians have responded by missile attacks on many of the U.S.

allies and on U.S.

bases.

If that doesn't define a war, even one that may only last a few days, I don't know what does.

That's right, David.

Well, this phase of it started with the protests last January.

And you remember that there were hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Iranians who were on the streets.

Right.

And thousands, if not tens of thousands, who were killed.

And at that time, the president declared that he was going to come aid the protesters.

And that began the huge military buildup all around Iran that we've discussed before.

Two aircraft carriers, hundreds of bombers, fighter jets, refuelers.

Just a huge buildup.

But even as the buildup began, the president decided to go ahead with a diplomatic conversation with Iran, one that was limited almost entirely to the future of the nuclear program.

We can't tell yet whether that was a serious effort or just for show.

But three administration officials who briefed us on this effort on Saturday made the case that in two or three separate meetings in Geneva, they were pressing the Iranians on whether they would be willing to give up all of their enrichment capability, the ability to produce nuclear fuel.

At one point, U.S.