Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast Alastair Crooke: Iran's Strategy - Evict the U.S. from the Middle East
Mar 2, 2026
Alastair Crooke, former British diplomat and founder of Conflicts Forum, explains Iran's military and political strategy. He outlines phased strikes on radar and defenses, efforts to exhaust US forces, pressure via the Strait of Hormuz, and regional shifts in Gulf security and alliances. The conversation traces implications for US and Israeli posture and the prospects for negotiation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Iran's Phased Campaign To Degrade US Surveillance
- Iran staged a phased campaign focusing first on US bases in the Gulf using drones and short-range missiles.
- They initially targeted US radar and ISR sites in Qatar and Bahrain to blind US/Israeli surveillance and degrade missile defenses.
Wear Down Then Hit With High Speed Missiles
- Iran used older, slower missiles and drones first to deplete Israeli air-defenses before introducing higher-speed munitions.
- Crooke described a deliberate wear-down then move to faster/hypersonic missiles that Israel's interceptors struggle to engage above ~Mach 4.
Emergence Of New Iranian Hypersonic Weapons
- Iran appears to have begun deploying new weapons including hypersonic missiles with multiple warheads.
- Crooke noted sightings of at least one hypersonic missile and cluster-style warheads not seen previously in Iranian strikes.