Trump risks encouraging Iranian escalation

Published March 23, 2026 4:27pm ET



With energy markets and the global economy roiling, President Donald Trump made clear on Monday that he wants to see the Iran war ended sooner rather than later. Peace talks are likely to take place in Pakistan this week.

This is positive. Trump should first end Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz energy chokepoint and eliminate new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei. But diplomacy should then follow.

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