Back to Bombs or Driving to a Deal? Assessing the U.S.-Iran State of Play

The past few days have shaken the already tenuous ceasefire with Iran. For the first time, regime forces attacked Israel in retaliation for military actions in Lebanon. They also downed an American military helicopter, pushing the boundaries of President Trump’s latest red line on killing American personnel. In response, U.S. and Israeli forces struck targets across Iran, and although Washington has not pulled the plug on negotiations, the president is now warning that Tehran has “taken too long to reach a deal” and will now “pay the price.” What does all this mean for the prospects of reaching an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz? And how might it affect the evolving postwar order in the region, as well as specific U.S. priorities like Iran’s nuclear program? To discuss these questions, The Washington Institute is pleased to announce a virtual Policy Forum with: Robert Satloff, the Institute’s Segal Executive Director and Howard P. Berkowitz Chair in U.S. Middle East Policy, and coauthor of its 2025 report “A Roadmap for Israel-Lebanon Peace.” Michael Singh, the Institute’s Managing Director and Steven D. Levy Senior Fellow, and former Senior Director for Middle East Affairs at the National Security Council. Dana Stroul, the Institute’s Director of Research and Kassen Senior Fellow, and former Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for the Middle East at the Pentagon.