US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s deployment of religious rhetoric in the Iran war has come under increased scrutiny. What happens when the line between political conflict and religious warfare blurs?
"I want to know who the nuclear experts are that are going," the Council's Rachel Bronson said of the US delegation. "We're sending over novices at the moment, and that should give us considerable concern."
The United States is squeezing Cuba harder than it has in years, with the island facing its worst energy and humanitarian crisis in a decade. Will this force change or will Trump follow through with his threats to “take the island?" María de los Angeles Torres breaks down current and historical realities.
"A two-week ceasefire is going to be very unstable," Council Lester Crown Senior Nonresident Rachel Bronson says. "You need to have some stability for tankers to move in and out, so anything that threatens that will continue this crisis and keep energy prices high."
"The US has achieved a type of tactical victory," Council Senior Nonresident Fellow Paul Poast says. "But the terms that are on the table right now would put Iran in a position to be able to control the Strait of Hormuz and actually be in a stronger position than they were even prior to the war."
"Ceasefires are incredibly precarious," says Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri. "But it does give at least a pause—at least a window—to try and push forward more of a negotiation, especially on the question of the nuclear conditions."
As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri joins Bloomberg Open Interest to discuss the reasons why a cease-fire with Iran remains unlikely.
