Haaretz Podcast 'Soon, Trump will have had enough’: Dan Shapiro on clashing Israel-U.S. war goals in Iran
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Mar 17, 2026 Dan Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Middle East policy expert, discusses U.S.-Israel strategic divergence and Iran policy. He weighs military gains versus long-term costs, urges an off-ramp to avoid asymmetric escalation, and examines risks of regime change, regional spillover, and domestic political fallout. Short, candid analysis on strategy, alliances, and the limits of force.
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Personal Experience During The First Sirens In Israel
- Dan Shapiro recounts being in Israel when the first sirens sounded, relocating to friends' home and experiencing dozens of alerts before leaving via Jordan.
- He credits fused U.S.-Israeli missile defenses, including THAAD and naval assets, for largely protecting civilians despite tragic casualties.
Declare Victory After Achieving Military Objectives
- Dan Shapiro argues President Trump should declare victory and end the campaign because core military objectives—leadership decapitation, missile and nuclear site damage, and naval disruption—have largely been achieved.
- He warns continued fighting lets Iran use asymmetric cards like closing the Strait of Hormuz and draining air defenses, increasing global economic and military costs.
Weaker Party Gains Leverage Through Asymmetric Escalation
- Shapiro highlights that the weaker party often escalates indirectly, and Iran is already expanding the battlefield with drone strikes and threats to oil infrastructure.
- He points to shutdowns in the Strait of Hormuz and hundreds of drones hitting Gulf states as economic leverage Iran can sustain.