Iran Conflict Raises Prospect of Forever War
An Iranian flag is planted in the rubble of a police station, damaged in airstrikes on March 3, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
Airdate: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 10 AM
More than four months after President Trump predicted a short war with Iran, the conflict is intensifying and broadening. The ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran has collapsed, leaving passage through the Strait of Hormuz restricted and the two nations on a war footing: the United States has carried out days of sustained airstrikes while Iran targets American allies in the Gulf. To many analysts, it’s raising the specter of a forever war. We talk about where U.S. policy goes from here.
Guests:
- Max Boot, senior fellow for national security studies, Council on Foreign Relations; columnist, Washington Post; author, “Reagan: His Life and Legend”
- Vivian Salama, staff writer, The Atlantic
- Kevin Kiley, U.S. Congressman representing California’s 3rd District