In this exclusive conversation, Andy Millette sits down with Dr. Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, to break down the fast-evolving Israel–Iran conflict and the U.S. response shaping it behind the scenes.
Parsi explains how Israel’s latest operation pursued three major objectives — decapitation of Iran’s leadership, crippling missile capacity, and drawing the United States deeper into confrontation — and why, in his words, “only one worked.” He describes Iran’s remarkable ability to reconstitute its leadership structure in under 18 hours, the evidence that Iranian missiles breached Israel’s layered defense systems, and the dangerous logic that might push Israeli decision-makers to act again before the end of 2025.
The discussion moves beyond battlefield analysis into U.S. grand strategy: whether Washington’s enduring goal of “primacy at any cost” is now fueling escalation instead of deterrence. Parsi also connects the dots between the Gaza ceasefire push, Hezbollah’s posture, and how Tehran calculates risk through the lens of regional deterrence rather than revenge.
For investors and market watchers, Parsi issues a clear warning: if strikes expand and U.S. bases in the Gulf are hit, closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger one of the largest energy and shipping shocks in years.
This is a must-watch for anyone following the intersection of foreign policy, energy markets, and geopolitical risk. #Millettian
