How Far Will Trump Go in Iran?

How Far Will Trump Go in Iran?

From Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

March 26, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

Mark Dubowitz discusses the complexities of U.S. strategy in Iran amidst high oil prices and ongoing tensions.

Is the U.S. winning the war with Iran? Even though President Trump claims success, it doesn’t quite feel like it — oil and gas prices are high, the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed, and the Iranian regime is still in place. Mark Dubowitz, the chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a prominent Iran hawk, explains why “total victory” is within reach in spite of the cost. I pressed him on the gap between Trump’s desire for a quick deal and his desire to end the Islamic Republic.

People in this episode

Host: Ross Douthat

Guest: Mark Dubowitz

Topics covered

  • U.S.-Iran relations
  • Trump administration
  • Middle East politics
  • oil prices
  • military strategy

Keywords

  • Trump
  • Iran
  • military strategy
  • oil prices
  • Middle East

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Places: Iran, U.S., Strait of Hormuz

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