The Good Fight Shashank Joshi on Why the War in the Middle East Won’t End Anytime Soon
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Mar 21, 2026 
Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor at The Economist and Middle East security analyst, joins to map the unfolding war of attrition between the US, Israel and Iran. He discusses strikes on missile stockpiles, Iran’s threats to the Strait of Hormuz, the state of Tehran’s nuclear program, and how political aims and economic costs shape the conflict’s trajectory.
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War Of Attrition Targets Different Capacities
- The conflict is a war of attrition where the US targets Iran's missile production and naval capabilities while Israel pursues political attrition against Iran's leadership.
- US strikes damaged missile stockpiles, production facilities and the navy, but political goals remain unclear and costly.
Iran's Regional Influence Was Already Waning
- Iran will be diminished in its ability to influence militant groups over a decade, but much of that weakening preceded the current campaign.
- Recent strikes cut missile launches by about 70% and reduced Iran's short-term missile threat, yet rebuilding remains possible.
Nuclear Program Largely Untargeted So Far
- The campaign has barely touched Iran's nuclear program despite that being a central public justification.
- Key enrichment sites were damaged last year and some stockpiles remain buried and inaccessible, so Iran was not imminently weaponizing.