Jacobin Radio Behind the News: Complications of the Iran War w/ Mouin Rabbani
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Mar 30, 2026 
Helen Yaffe, Professor of Latin American political economy and Cuba expert, discusses U.S. oil blockade impacts and Cuban resilience. Mouin Rabbani, Middle East analyst and Jadaliyya co-editor, examines the Iran war, regional politics, and negotiation dynamics. They cover sanctions, military strategy, Gulf state dilemmas, Cuban energy crises, and international responses in concise, sharp conversations.
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Israeli Influence Has Limited U.S. Exit Options
- Israel has successfully narrowed U.S. off-ramps, shaping escalation as the likely path.
- Rabbani argues Israeli influence and aligned hawks in Washington left the U.S. with few options beyond escalating.
War Was Sold As A Quick Win To A Vacuous President
- Trump appears inconsistent and likely lacks a coherent long-term Iran strategy.
- Rabbani suggests the war was sold as a quick decapitation victory to a vacuous president, leaving no realistic Plan B.
Conflict May Strengthen Iran And Russia Economically
- The war paradoxically eased some sanctions on Iranian energy and boosted its revenues.
- Rabbani notes temporary U.S. relief for oil at sea and says the conflict may strengthen Russia's hand in Ukraine via diverted weapons and revenue flows.