About this episode

Mike Doran discusses the ongoing conflict with Iran and its implications for U.S. strategy in the Middle East.

Mike Doran, senior fellow and director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at the Hudson Institute, returns to School of War to examine why the war with Iran continues despite devastating military setbacks for Tehran. Is President Trump’s Iran strategy truly different from President Obama’s, or are the similarities overstated? What does the fight over the Strait of Hormuz reveal about the limits of American power? And what does this war tell us about the future of U.S. strategy in the Middle East—and its broader competition with China? 01:22 - Recap of the Iran War 06:03 - Iran's Leverage 09:05 - MoU Misunderstandings 12:28 - The Crux of the MoU Dispute 15:42 - The Nuclear Status Quo 17:58 - Iran's Degradation Since October 7 21:13 - The Democrats' View 22:02 - The Right's View 23:25 - Trump's "Obama-Style" Rhetoric 28:10 - Should America Reimpose the Blockade? 28:53 - The Drone and Ballistic Missile Problem 31:10 - Drone Warfare Has Changed Everything 32:01 - The Vulnerability of America's Gulf Allies 37:21 - Is the MoU Still in Effect? 39:34 - Why Nobody Is Buying Iranian Oil 46:32 - China and the Bigger Picture Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod…

People in this episode

Guest: Mike Doran

Topics covered

• Iran War
• U.S. foreign policy
• Middle East strategy
• American power
• China competition
• Nuclear status
• Military strategy

Keywords

• Iran
• U.S. strategy
• Middle East
• Trump
• Obama
• Strait of Hormuz
• China
• military setbacks
• nuclear status
• drone warfare

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hudson Institute, The Free Press

Places: Iran, United States, Strait of Hormuz, China

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