The Middle East After the Iran War w/ Trita Parsi

SUPPORT QI'S FIRST AMENDMENT FUND: https://givingtools.com/give/939 CHECK OUT TRITA'S SUBSTACK: https://tritaparsi.substack.com/ In the latest episode of Always at War, Courtney and Alex sit down with Quincy Institute co-founder and Executive Vice President Trita Parsi, an expert on Iran and US-Iranian relations. Trita has spent years warning Washington against a disastrous war with Iran — and now, he's speaking out in favor of the US diplomatic efforts to end it. Trita's effective advocacy has made him a target of very same neoconservative voices who pushed for this war in the first place — he explains to Courtney and Alex why Laura Loomer, the Free Press, and other hawkish voices are pushing for his deportation, and why Washington's war party sees the Quincy Institute as such a threat. Trita also breaks down why he's increasingly bullish the US-Iran MOU can hold, what makes the Trump team's efforts to restrain Israel different from Biden's, and why a new Middle East security architecture percolating right now — without America at the center — is a massive vindication of the restraint approach to the Middle East. After the interview, Courtney and Alex take a quick look at the Wall Street Journal editorial board's latest pro-war screed, and explain why the op-ed class is getting more desperate (hint: it's because they're losing!) 00:00 Introduction 02:31 Welcome Trita Parsi 03:45 Can the MOU survive Netanyahu's next move? 08:29 Does Trump's pressure on Israel differ from Biden's? 12:47 A new Middle East security architecture is forming faster than expected 17:51 2026 vs. 2015: what's different about this Iran deal 23:34 Democrats repeating Republicans' JCPOA playbook 28:51 What a durable deal requires — including from Iran 31:43 The neocon campaign to deport Trita Parsi and why it backfired 34:44 Post-interview debrief + support the QI First Amendment Fund 40:17 Dissecting the WSJ's pro-war op-ed 50:21 Trump says Iran can have ballistic missiles ### Why is America seemingly always at war? Join the Quincy Institute’s Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan as they expose the monied interests, outdated ideologies, and entrenched powers that have driven the U.S. to wage nearly 400 wars and interventions. They’ll be joined by journalists, advocates, and experts to uncover who profits from America’s endless conflicts, and to imagine how we can build a better, more peaceful U.S. foreign policy. Learn more about the Quincy Institute: quincyinst.org Contact the show: [email protected] Show art by Justin Hantz ### Quincy Institute is an independent, nonprofit think tank. Help fund our research: https://quincyinst.org/donations/ Read our reporting: https://ResponsibleStatecraft.org Twitter: https://x.com/QuincyInst TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/quincyinst Facebook:   / quincyinst   Instagram:   / quincyinst   Website: https://quincyinst.org