World Review with Ivo Daalder Iran War Escalation?, Trump's China Summit Off, Is Cuba Next?
Mar 20, 2026
Yaroslav Trofimov, WSJ Middle East correspondent and author; Robbie Gramer, WSJ national security reporter; Karen DeYoung, Washington Post national security correspondent and biographer. They discuss Iran’s ongoing military strikes and missile/drone capabilities. They consider risks to the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf states’ shifting alignments. They explore how the conflict reshapes US-China ties and debates over US policy toward Cuba.
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Iran Still Has Precision Strike Power
- Iran retains precision strike capability despite claims its military was crippled.
- Yaroslav Trofimov notes Iran struck LNG plants and refineries and still controls the Strait of Hormuz, pressuring global energy markets.
Military Victory Doesn’t Define Political Endgame
- Declaring a war 'militarily won' can mask unclear political objectives and shifting goals.
- Karen DeYoung highlights US and Israeli differences: US targets military sites while Israel attacks broader targets, leaving endstates ambiguous.
Keeping The Strait Open Is Technically Daunting
- Reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force is technically hard and economically sensitive.
- Robbie Gramer warns cheap drones and limpet mines can repeatedly choke the strait even if major militaries degrade Iran's forces.