EPISODE · Jun 13, 2026 · 31 MIN
Coercive Diplomacy: Negotiating Under Fire
from My Weird Prompts
Is it diplomacy when one side is bombing the other? This episode unpacks the Trump administration's strategy toward Iran: open negotiations paired with kinetic military strikes and economic pressure through the Strait of Hormuz. We examine the concept of "coercive diplomacy" as defined by Thomas Schelling, compare it to historical precedents like Nixon's Christmas bombings and the Dayton Accords, and explore why the administration has abandoned the traditional pretense of ambiguity. We also discuss the risks — including whether Iran will see the U.S. as willing to escalate further, and how sidelining Israel may paradoxically make a deal more achievable for the Iranian regime.
What this episode covers
Is it diplomacy when one side is bombing the other? This episode unpacks the Trump administration's strategy toward Iran: open negotiations paired with kinetic military strikes and economic pressure through the Strait of Hormuz. We examine the concept of "coercive diplomacy" as defined by Thomas Schelling, compare it to historical precedents like Nixon's Christmas bombings and the Dayton Accords, and explore why the administration has abandoned the traditional pretense of ambiguity. We also discuss the risks — including whether Iran will see the U.S. as willing to escalate further, and how sidelining Israel may paradoxically make a deal more achievable for the Iranian regime.
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Coercive Diplomacy: Negotiating Under Fire
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