Alternate Shots with Richard Haass and John Ellis It Takes Three to Tango: Episode 20
10 snips
Mar 10, 2026 They unpack the endgame of a US-Israel-Iran conflict, debating who must agree to stop fighting and what leverage each side holds. Iran’s threat to the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on oil markets gets attention. The conversation widens to how Russia and China benefit, the strain on U.S. munitions for Ukraine and Taiwan, and the need to adapt to cheap drone warfare.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
It Takes Three To End A War
- Ending a war begun by one side requires all three parties to agree to stop fighting.
- John Ellis: Donald Trump can signal 'mission accomplished' but Israel and Iran must be induced to accept an end to hostilities.
Israel Wants To Delay Ending Until Iran Is Set Back
- Israel wants to degrade Iran's military capacity and will resist ending hostilities until satisfied with the damage done.
- Richard Haass notes Israel aims to slow Iran's ability to rebuild, buying a decade of advantage by destroying production capacity.
Secure A Ceasefire Then Lock It In Negotiations
- Pair an informal ceasefire with formal negotiations to lock in rules of the road.
- Richard Haass recommends a two-phase approach: signal a pause then restart talks to formalize limits on nuclear and military activities.