What Is Iran’s Endgame?

What Is Iran’s Endgame?

From Foreign Policy Live by Foreign Policy

March 31, 2026 · 43 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Iran's leadership strategies and the geopolitical implications of the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict.

As the U.S.-Israel war against Iran enters a second month of conflict, how is Tehran’s surviving leadership thinking about an endgame? And how will the conflict reshape geopolitics in the region? Ali Vaez has extensive contacts with Iranian lawmakers and sits down with Ravi Agrawal to discuss the regime’s options. Vaez is a project director at the International Crisis Group. Plus, Ravi’s Read on how the White House seems to be winning the battle but losing the war. Ravi Agrawal: Trump Is Losing the War in Iran Robert A. Pape and Ali Vaez: The Iran War Has Escaped Its Authors Zakiyeh Yazdanshenas: What Iran Wants From the War Thomas Juneau: Get Ready for a Weaker but Nastier Iran Menahem Merhavy: Iran’s Civilizational Rhetoric Is Hollow Arash Reisinezhad: Iran’s Biggest Wartime Advantage is Geography Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Ravi Agrawal

Guest: Ali Vaez

Topics covered

  • Iran
  • geopolitics
  • U.S.-Israel conflict
  • leadership
  • endgame
  • war analysis

Keywords

  • Iran
  • U.S.-Israel war
  • geopolitics
  • Ali Vaez
  • Ravi Agrawal
  • International Crisis Group
  • endgame
  • war analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: International Crisis Group

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