Amanpour

Donald Trump took the United States to war, and now he's trying to find a way out of it. That leaves Europe in a quandary, wanting to support its most powerful ally while keeping out of a war they reject. While NATO's secretary general says Trump is acting to keep the world safe, Spain's prime minister is speaking out loudly against the war, and Germany and Norway also have grave concerns. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide joins from Oslo. 

Also on today's show: Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the UK; Robert Pape, Political Science Professor, University of Chicago 

 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While President Trump says he is "in the throes of a real possibility of making a deal" with Iran, leading indicators point to more war. Meanwhile, global oil prices are back above $100 a barrel, as the market sees no quick end to the conflict. Mehran Kamrava, Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar, and Karen Young, senior research scholar at the Centre of Global Energy at Columbia, join the show to discuss. 

Also on today's show: Mark Entwistle, Former Canadian Ambassador to Cuba; Jason Furman, Former Chairman, White House Council of Economic Advisers 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump has posted that the US and Iran have had talks regarding a "complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East" and is postponing military action against Iran's energy facilities for the next five days. Tehran denies any dialogue with Washington, dismissing Trump's claims as an attempt to lower energy prices. Marc Short served as Director of Legislative Affairs at the White House during Trump's first term and he joins the show to make sense of the US strategy in this war. 

Also on today's show: Wolfgang Ischinger, Former German Ambassador to the US / Chairman, Munich Security Conference; Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Author & Professor, Princeton University 

 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the war rages on, the question is - what does victory look like for everyone involved? We begin with the Iranian view with former nuclear negotiator and diplomat Seyed Hossein Mousavian. Then, from the U.S., the Pentagon senior advisor turned whistleblower who is warning of a dangerous disregard for civilian casualties in Iran. Correspondent Jomana Karadsheh then takes us to the people on the ground, to hear from the Iranians caught between foreign bombs and a repressive regime. Then, Christiane speaks to former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett about Israel's endgame in a war boosting Benjamin Netanyahu's popularity. From the archives, recalling the time Saddam Hussein miscalculated Iran's reaction to invasion and how the war forged the strategic mindset of the Islamic Republic. And finally, Iranians around the world mark Nowruz as war casts a dark shadow over celebrations.

Air date: March 21, 2026

Guests:

Seyed Hossein Mousavian

Wes Bryant

Naftali Bennett

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Not our war" is the message from America's top allies this week, after President Trump asked them to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Many NATO allies view his war on Iran as illegal, and, coming from a President who just two months ago was threatening Greenland, the request fell on deaf ears. Meanwhile, America's enemies may see a the situation as an opportunity. As US Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns witnessed Beijing's push for power up close, and he understands the complexity of America's diplomatic relations all too well. He was also US Ambassador to NATO, and he joined Christiane in London. 

Also on today's show: former Pentagon analyst Wes J. Bryant; Michael Lynton & Joshua Steiner, authors of "From Mistakes to Meaning" 

 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices