Some weeks I head out of the office on a Friday afternoon with an uneasy feeling that our best-laid plans for next week’s Guardian Weekly might not look quite the same by Monday. This was one of those weeks.
While the scope and power of the US-Israel attack on Iran – not least the successful targeting of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other senior leaders – took many by surprise, the drums of war had been building for a while. With hindsight, last week’s failed nuclear talks may simply have been cover for what was to come.
As war unfurled dramatically across the Middle East, it was impossible to predict the consequences on a range of fronts, from the likelihood of regime change in Iran to the impact on America’s regional allies under attack, or the ripple effect on global energy prices and disruption to international travel.
In a special edition of the magazine this week, Guardian writers consider the history, context and possible ramifications of a conflict that could change the dynamics of the Middle East for generations. Julian Borger sets the scene with a scathing read on Trump’s big gamble, while Jason Burke exposes the origins and execution of the plan to assassinate Khamenei.
From within a deeply divided Iran, Deepa Parent reports on voices of joy, anxiety and fury. Patrick Wintour asks whether the Iranian regime can survive – and what might happen if it falls. And Robert Tait reflects on half a century of historical US-Iranian enmity.
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Five essential reads in this week’s edition
Spotlight | Can the Louvre rediscover its joie de vivre?
After a heist and the departure of its boss, the famous Paris museum is wrestling with repairs, strikes and a criticised renovation plan, reports Jon Henley
Science | Do lizards hold the key to how nature works?
The emergence of a new group of common wall lizards offers an insight into how variety within nature can help conserve species, writes Roberto García-Roa
Interview | The world according to Gavin Newsom
He’s the Democratic politician with movie-star looks, dogged by accusations of being a smooth‑talking elitist. But Gavin Newsom may just win the most powerful office in the world. Jonathan Freedland finds out why
Opinion | Labour needs to wake up to the dawning of a new political era
After last week’s disastrous showing in a byelection, the government must accept voters no longer want two-party politics, argues John Harris
Culture | The wild and witty paintings of Rose Wylie
Roaring into her 90s, the rebellious artist is now sought after by galleries worldwide and her works fetch huge sums. Melissa Denes visited her studio
What else we’ve been reading
Aside from his name (somewhat unfairly) being rhyming slang for things going wrong, Pete Tong is best known as one of the original superstar DJs. It’s pleasing to read that at 65, he’s still as busy as ever – but club culture took a toll on his hearing and now he wants to help others avoid the same fate. Graham Snowdon, editor
I loved this story of Marcus, the black labrador whose attempt to be a guide dog was thwarted on account of him being “a bit slow” and “a sloth with a low drive to work”. So, Marcus became a therapy dog, for which he is perfectly suited on account of being affectionate, friendly and polite. Good boy Marcus. Neil Willis, production editor
Other highlights from the Guardian website
Audio | The men trying to do friendship, better
Video | What would it take to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession?
Gallery | Alex Frayne’s photographic exploration of America
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