Robert Kagan

The war on Iran, framed as a strategic project by the US and Israel to reshape West Asia, ended with the Islamabad agreement, which resembles a retreat rather than a victory. The article argues that despite military and economic pressures on Iran, the conflict failed to achieve the US-Israel objective of dismantling Iran's regional influence, marking a strategic defeat for the Western allies.

The US and Iran are nearing a preliminary framework agreement, but analysts from the Atlantic Council and Brookings Institution caution it is an initial step rather than a comprehensive deal. The agreement, likely a memorandum of understanding (MoU), would set principles for further negotiations and require sustained US leverage and European coordination.

Politico columnist Jonathan Martin discusses primary election results and key races to watch for the midterms. Dominic Erdozain explores patriotism amid polarization, and Robert Kagan, a Brookings Institution fellow, claims the U.S. has lost the war in Iran.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions in the Gulf have stalled as tensions flared again. Robert Kagan argues in The Atlantic that Iran's leverage in the Strait limits U.S. options, joined by Walter Isaacson to discuss the implications.

Political scientist Robert Kagan warns that a war in Iran risks permanently weakening the US's global position. The article references US President Donald Trump at the White House on May 22, 2026.

The U.S. and Iran are nearing a peace deal, but Robert Kagan of the Brookings Institution warns the U.S. may emerge weaker post-war. The article highlights potential geopolitical shifts as both nations signal diplomatic progress.