On goal difference: are America and Israel diverging on Iran? - Economist Podcasts Recap
Podcast: Economist Podcasts
Published: 2026-03-25T10:30:42.000Z
Duration: 1429
Guests: Anshel Pfeffer, Sue-Lin Wong
What Happened
President Donald Trump claims that Iran is eager to make a deal with him, mentioning a mysterious gift from Iran worth a significant amount of money. However, Iranian officials deny any negotiations, questioning America's internal discord.
Anshel Pfeffer, The Economist's Israel correspondent, highlights Israel's concern that Trump might end the war with Iran without considering Israeli interests. While talks are ongoing, military operations continue with both American and Israeli forces targeting Iranian sites.
The initial goal of America and Israel was regime change in Iran, but Trump's focus seems to be shifting towards controlling energy issues like the Strait of Hormuz. Israel remains intent on weakening Iran to incite a popular uprising, although the success of this strategy is difficult to measure.
Despite significant damage to Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, Iranian missiles continue to be launched at Israel and other countries in the region. This contradicts Trump's narrative of successful talks, raising concerns about the true effectiveness of the military operations.
Anshel Pfeffer notes that Israel cannot continue the conflict alone if Trump decides on a ceasefire, as the military operations are joint efforts. Any agreement Trump reaches with Iran would likely obligate Israel to comply.
The episode also discusses the popularity of cryptocurrency in Asia, with Sue-Lin Wong noting that Asia is leading the shift from crypto as a speculative asset to a practical financial tool. Remittances and cross-border payments are key drivers of crypto adoption in the region.
Key Insights
- Donald Trump claims progress in talks with Iran, but Iranian officials deny any negotiations, highlighting internal discord in America.
- Israel's main concern is that Trump might end the conflict with Iran without securing Israeli interests, as military operations continue alongside talks.
- Despite initial goals of regime change, Trump's current focus seems to be on energy control, while Israel aims to weaken Iran internally.
- Asia is at the forefront of using cryptocurrency as a practical tool, driven by remittances and cross-border payments, moving beyond speculative use.