Tech Won't Save Us The Long History of the US War on Iran w/ Spencer Ackerman
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Mar 26, 2026 Spencer Ackerman, journalist and author who covers national security and the Forever Wars, walks through decades of U.S. intervention and rising conflict with Iran. He maps the historical roots from 1953 to recent strikes. He discusses regional alliances, sanctions, Iran’s missile and drone tactics, and why key infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz matter.
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Long Roots Of US Iran Hostility
- The US-Iran conflict traces back decades, not just 1979; US actions like the 1953 coup shaped Iranian hostility and long-term mistrust.
- Spencer Ackerman links US-backed removal of Mossadegh and the Shah's repression to enduring Iranian narratives of grievance.
9/11 Killed A Possible US Iran Rapprochement
- After 9/11 Iran briefly sought detente with the US but George W. Bush's 'axis of evil' speech and subsequent Iraq invasion ended that opening.
- Spencer explains how US policy choices turned a potential cooperation against the Taliban into renewed confrontation.
Iraq War Strengthened Iran's Regional Reach
- The US occupation of Iraq unintentionally increased Iranian regional influence by empowering Shiite politics and militias.
- Ackerman links Iran's regional arc (Iraq, Syria, Hezbollah) to the strategic consequences of the Iraq war.
