The Rest Is Politics: Leading 176. How Close Are We To War With Iran? (Robert Malley)
102 snips
Feb 16, 2026 
Robert Malley, former U.S. diplomat and lead negotiator on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, discusses US-Iran trajectories and the chances of renewed diplomacy or escalation. He examines Trump’s foreign policy style and its limits. He also reflects on Gaza’s long-term crisis, why the two-state solution looks unviable, and the challenges of negotiating with adversaries.
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October 7 As Historical Reenactment
- October 7 and the aftermath reenacted deep historical emotions on both Israeli and Palestinian sides.
- Malley argues both the attack and the Israeli response reflect longstanding societal patterns, not anomalies.
Ceasefires Become New 'Normal'
- A partial reduction in violence becomes a new, lower baseline that the world accepts as 'improvement'.
- Malley notes media churn and political attention shifts hide ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
Depoliticized Reconstruction Risks Control
- The Trump 'plan' treats Gaza's problems as humanitarian and depoliticizes Palestinian rights.
- Malley warns reconstruction without legitimate Palestinian representation yields surveillance and no self-determination.
