Has Trump Lost the Middle East?

Has Trump Lost the Middle East?

From CONFLICTED by Message Heard

June 9, 2026 · 1h 6m

About this episode

Aimen discusses the complexities of US-Iran relations and the role of various Middle Eastern countries in the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Aimen returns to bring us up to date on all the latest manoeuvrings in the Middle East. Aimen and Thomas discuss: Trump’s chaotic, micromanaged Iran diplomacy and reliance on inexperienced “real estate” advisers. Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Turkey, and Egypt as flawed or compromised mediators with “skin in the game.” Why Aimen thinks Switzerland would be the proper neutral US–Iran mediator. Oman’s tilt toward Iran amid assumptions of American decline and future Iranian regional weight. The UAE–Saudi split over Iran: Emirati hawkishness versus Saudi caution and strategic bruising. Saudi resentment over Yemen, Houthi attacks, Israel’s freer hand, and lack of US security guarantees. Israel, Hezbollah, Lebanon, and Iran: efforts to decouple the Lebanon front from the US–Iran track Join the Conflicted Community here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

People in this episode

Host: Thomas

Guest: Aimen

Topics covered

  • Middle East diplomacy
  • US foreign policy
  • Iran relations
  • Regional mediators
  • Saudi-UAE relations
  • Israel and Hezbollah

Keywords

  • Trump
  • Iran diplomacy
  • Middle East
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • Oman
  • Israel
  • Hezbollah
  • Houthi
  • diplomacy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Switzerland, UAE, Saudi, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Turkey, Egypt, Hezbollah

Places: Middle East, Lebanon

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