Unholy: Two Jews on the News Iran War: What Comes Next - with Dr Suzanne Maloney
May 5, 2026
Dr Suzanne Maloney, Brookings foreign policy director and Iran expert, offers a sober read on Tehran's post‑conflict posture. She discusses control of the Strait of Hormuz, who now makes decisions in Tehran, the limits of US options, and whether a negotiated settlement or renewed violence is more likely. The conversation maps shifting regional leverage and what this means for the nuclear question.
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US Political Constraints Shape Military Restraint
- President Trump avoids full-scale escalation for political and economic reasons but still needs concessions on Iran's nuclear stockpile to claim success.
- Maloney links avoidance of major operations to War Powers politics and market sensitivity ahead of midterms.
Iran Runs By Committee Not One Strongman
- Iran's decision-making remains collective; hardline IRGC figures and foreign minister Abbas Araqchi lead diplomacy while Mojtaba Khamenei is sidelined by injury.
- Maloney highlights Kalibaf, Vahidi, and Araqchi's shuttle diplomacy and military influence.
Enrichment Timeframes Are The Real Bargaining Chip
- A negotiable zone likely exists around non-enrichment timeframes rather than forfeiting enrichment rights; stockpiles remain the tougher issue.
- Maloney suggests extending the current non-enrichment period and bargaining over HEU and LEU handling.