Trump’s Shaky Iran Deal: a Memo, not a Peace Treaty

Shownotes President Donald Trump launched his full-scale war on Iran in February without an announcement, a clear cause of war, or any declared goals. In similar fashion, the on-and-off hostilities came to some sort of close, for now, with a “memorandum of understanding” announced on June 15.  Six fellows at Century International join Order from Ashes for a first look at the deal. It’s not a peace treaty or even a formal ceasefire. Like much of what passes for diplomacy in recent years, it’s ad hoc, not binding, and includes no enforcement mechanism. If it’s not a real peace deal, what is it? Will Israel keep fighting expansionist wars anyway, or withdraw from Lebanon? How will the wealthy monarchies in the Gulf position themselves now that the war has punctured their branding as a safe haven removed from geopolitics?  Century International’s fellows help make sense of the agreement and what might change short of an outright, lasting end to the war. Participants Peter Salisbury is a fellow at Century International. Dahlia Scheindlin is a fellow at Century International. Nicholas Danforth is a fellow at Century International. Frederick Deknatel is a fellow at Century International. Rohan Advani is a fellow at Century International. Sam Heller is a fellow at Century International. Thanassis Cambanis is director of Century International.  Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 Episode: Order from Ashes 117