The Brookings Institution
The Current podcast
May 21, 2026
Episode Summary:
Brookings Senior Fellow Robert Kagan writes in The Atlantic that U.S. defeat in Iran war “is not only possible but likely.” In this episode of The Brookings Current, Kagan is joined by Melanie Sisson and Michael O’Hanlon, also senior fellows in Foreign Policy, to discuss their latest thinking on the war, and whether it has weakened America’s hand in the region.
KAGAN: Iran controls access to the Strait of Hormuz, which means they control access to a major portion of the world’s energy supply which has completely reversed the power situation i in the region so it’s pretty much a disaster.
O’HANLON: The old status quo is gone. The whole thing, the whole enchilada is to some extent up for play.
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SISSON: Hi, this is The Brookings Current from the Brookings Podcast Network. I’m Melanie Sisson, a senior fellow in foreign policy here at Brookings, and I’m joined today by two fellow senior fellows, Bob Kagan and Mike O’Hanlon, to share our latest thinking on the course of U.S. military operations against Iran. Where does the conflict stand? Has it weakened or strengthened America’s hand in the region? And what are the global implications thus far?
Access Kagan’s article, “Checkmate in Iran: Washington can’t reverse or control the consequences of losing this war” (subscription required).