Podcast Summary: Bannon's War Room – Episode 5237

Title: War With Iran Enters Fourth Week Cont.
Date: March 22, 2026
Host: Stephen K. Bannon (WarRoom.org)
Key Guests: Rabbi Pesach Wolicki (Jerusalem), Scott Bessant, Ben Harnwell (Rome), George Papadopoulos

Overview of Episode Theme

This episode provides a comprehensive update and analysis of the ongoing U.S.-Iran war as it enters its fourth week. With the conflict intensifying following President Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Bannon is joined by regional and geopolitical experts to examine military, political, and economic repercussions across Israel, Iran, the Persian Gulf, Europe, and the broader geopolitical chessboard. The show features on-the-ground insights from Jerusalem, perspectives from Europe, and commentary on U.S. domestic and international strategy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. Status in Israel and Resilience Amidst Attacks

Guest: Rabbi Pesach Wolicki (from Jerusalem)
[02:03 – 03:50]

• Israeli civilians exhibit notable resilience and discipline amid ongoing missile and drone attacks, with a collective routine of moving to bomb shelters during air-raid sirens.
• Attacks are intensifying with increased coordination between Hezbollah and Iran, including use of cluster munitions against civilian targets.
• Despite the barrage, casualties remain low due to high civilian preparedness.
• There’s a paradoxical sense of “relief and satisfaction” in Israel for finally confronting Iran directly—seen as the long-anticipated “big war.”
  • Notable Quote: "There's actually a, a sense of kind of satisfaction and even relief that we're actually doing this war on terms that are beneficial to us. Because... at some point in the future there was going to be a big war with the Iranians." – Rabbi Wolicki [02:56]

II. Iranian Civilian Response and Prospects for Regime Change

[03:50 – 10:22]

• Bannon presses on whether war has unified Persians behind the regime or if an uprising is possible.
• Rabbi Wolicki: Dismisses idea of mass support for the regime; most Iranians oppose it but have not staged mass protests because opposition groups have wisely chosen to wait until the regime’s security forces (Basij, IRGC) are degraded by Israeli/American strikes.
  • Quote: "So long as the IRGC and the Basij forces are being degraded day by day, and they are, there's no reason for the people to come out." – Rabbi Wolicki [04:41]
• Both agree on massive regime rallies being regime-orchestrated, comprising 10% or less of the population.
• Information blackout: Ongoing internet restrictions mean most information out of Iran is regime-produced, skewing international perceptions.
  • Quote: "With the Internet blackout... almost by definition, if you're seeing stuff coming out from Iran on the Internet, it's coming from people aligned with the regime." – Rabbi Wolicki [09:37]

III. U.S.-Israeli Tensions and Strategic Coordination

[11:12 – 14:09]

• Bannon voices frustration at Israeli attacks on Iranian oil and gas infrastructure that allegedly go against U.S. orders (President Trump’s “standing order”). Raises questions about alliance coherence.
• Rabbi Wolicki: Cites conflicting reports—initial mainstream media said strikes were coordinated, later walked back. Suggests a "good cop, bad cop" dynamic or tacit U.S. approval.
  • Quote: "It's not out of the question there was a game, good cop, bad cop going on here." – Rabbi Wolicki [12:56]

IV. The Larger Military Picture: Shifting Center of Gravity

[15:00 – 17:25]

• Commentary on the war now pivoting toward the Persian Gulf, particularly the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. ultimatum.
• Bannon references historical U.S. escalation logic ("escalate to de-escalate") and major economic risks with oil potentially reaching $200/barrel.
• Both U.S. and Iranian officials signal clear lines in the sand, increasing risk of rapid escalation or a dramatic standoff.

V. The Lebanon Front: Preparing for a Major Israeli Incursion

[17:25 – 21:03]

• Rabbi Wolicki: Confirms major Israeli reserve call-up and preparations for a ground invasion into southern Lebanon to eliminate Hezbollah’s military infrastructure ("once and for all").
  • Hezbollah is described not as a proxy, but as a direct extension of Iran—its leadership directly appointed in Tehran.
  • The Lebanese political class and public figures (some quietly, some more openly) are allegedly grateful for potential liberation from Hezbollah/Iranian control.
  • Quote: "Hezbollah is Iran ... They're actually Iran. So if Israel's at war with Iran, they're also at war with Hezbollah." – Rabbi Wolicki [17:50]
  • Plan to clear out populations up to the Litani River to create a buffer.

VI. The Gaza Equation and Arab Diplomatic Dynamics

[21:03 – 23:14]

• Bannon questions the future of American-sponsored frameworks for Gaza involving Qatar and Turkey.
• Rabbi Wolicki: Israel is keeping Gaza at a "low boil" until the outcome with Iran and Hezbollah is clearer. Array of Arab actors (Gulf States, Saudis, Egyptians) are hedging bets and outcomes may reshape entire regional order.
• Hamas is in a bind, caught between Iranian and Qatari patrons, forced into contradictory public statements as their backers are at war with each other.
  • Quote: "Their two patrons, Qatar and Iran, are at war with each other. And they got themselves into a pickle..." – Rabbi Wolicki [22:14]

VII. European and U.S. Domestic Political Perspectives

[24:52 – 31:18]

• Ben Harnwell (Rome): Oil markets highly volatile. European NATO allies are reluctant to join any offensive or be drawn further into a "third Gulf War," aware of immense political risks at home.
  • Quote: "This is a turning point. It is an inflection point in the war. And whether President Trump decides to follow through…will dictate whether NATO decides to redefine the present situation." – Ben Harnwell [25:56]
• Bannon and Harnwell discuss the significance of U.S. signaling primarily being directed at domestic audiences (esp. MAGA) more than at Iran or Europe.
• President Trump’s comments branding NATO allies as “cowards” seen as domestic political play.

VIII. U.S. Strategy: Economic Warfare, Energy, and the China-Iran Angle

[34:23 – 36:57]

• George Papadopoulos: Warns of "mission creep" and stresses that prolonged war with Iran may damage U.S. strategic positioning against China.
  • Suggests decoupling Iran from China’s sphere (especially in energy and payments) via integrating it into Western-supported corridors, such as the India-Middle East-Europe trade route.
  • Quote: "China will ultimately be the biggest loser, which I think…that’s where all of our focus should really be, on how we compete with China." – George Papadopoulos [36:34]

IX. Broader Geostrategic and Economic Consequences

[36:57 – 43:17]

• Bannon reviews historic U.S. alliances, current strategic burdens, the duality of Arab Gulf states’ economic windfall from high oil prices, and faint European commitment.
• Papadopoulos explains how U.S. sanctions have driven Russia and Iran into China’s orbit, undermining the Petrodollar, with Iran now selling oil in yuan.
• Argues for the necessity of splitting Russia from Iran and China and concluding Ukraine war to rebalance against China.
  • Quote: “Now it's in the US Interest to separate China from Russia and Russia from Iran so that the United States can have a working relationship with [Russia]….” – George Papadopoulos [44:06]

X. Military Developments & The Iranian Threat Range

[45:26 – 46:29]

• Ben Harnwell: Cites Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s warning about Iranian missile capabilities, now apparently capable of targeting Diego Garcia (6,500km range), exponentially increasing the threat zone.
  • Iran is using attacks on U.S. allies to avoid direct escalation with the U.S.; “put your gun down or the kid gets it” analogy.
  • Quote: "It's not primarily focusing its targets on striking the United States, but striking the United States allies in the region. It's effective and we'll see who blinks first." – Ben Harnwell [45:54]

Memorable Quotes and Segments with Timestamps

• “This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going medieval on these people.” – Stephen K. Bannon [00:02]
• "There's a real sense that when we get on the other side of this, we will finally…not be living under the threat of this Iranian regime." – Rabbi Wolicki [03:12]
• "When we see these big rallies in the streets, that's all the regime people…If you add up the Basij and the IRGC, just the fighting men, you probably have about 600,000 people…Less than 10% of the population oppresses the rest." – Rabbi Wolicki [08:16]
• "We don't have independent reporting here. We really only have what gets filtered through from what the regime allows out." – Rabbi Wolicki [09:56]
• “The Israelis are absolutely planning for a ground invasion [of Lebanon]…they plan to once and for all rid Lebanon of Hezbollah.” – Rabbi Wolicki [17:29]
• “You could be correct. You could also be dead wrong.” – Stephen K. Bannon to Rabbi Wolicki, challenging assumptions on Iranian popular attitudes [10:22]
• “We need to sit back and wait what happens. This is a turning point. It is an inflection point in the war.” – Ben Harnwell [25:56]
• "It's the economy…If the United States can somehow take Iran out of China's sphere…and integrate them into their own Western projects…then I think this military conflict will actually start to fizzle out." – George Papadopoulos [36:13]
• "Escalation rarely leads to de-escalation and that's why I think it's a pretty dangerous strategy." – Ben Harnwell [33:38]

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Participants | Timestamp | | --- | --- | --- | | Israeli civilian status and bomb shelters | Rabbi Wolicki | 02:03–03:50 | | Iranian regime support and civilian sentiment | Bannon, Wolicki | 03:50–10:22 | | U.S./Israeli coordination, gas field strike | Bannon, Wolicki | 11:12–14:09 | | Center of gravity shifts – Persian Gulf | Bannon commentary | 15:00–17:25 | | Israeli preparations for major Lebanon incursion | Rabbi Wolicki | 17:25–21:03 | | Gaza/Arab states reaction | Bannon, Wolicki | 21:03–23:14 | | European/NATO reluctance | Ben Harnwell | 24:52–26:57 | | U.S. economic and China angle | Papadopoulos | 34:23–36:57 | | U.S. alliance burdens & oil | Bannon commentary | 36:57–43:17 | | Russia-China-Iran axis | Papadopoulos | 43:17–44:59 | | Iran’s extended missile range | Ben Harnwell | 45:26–46:29 |

Closing Thoughts

• The episode underscores a rapidly escalating and increasingly complex conflict with shifting military, political, and economic fronts.
• U.S., Israeli, and allied objectives are not always fully aligned, leading to friction and confusion.
• European reluctance to engage, Arab Gulf states’ mixed incentives, intensifying energy market volatility, and the China/Russia/Iran “axis” all complicate prospects for a quick or clear resolution.
• Warnings are sounded throughout regarding the dangers of "escalating to de-escalate" and the impact on U.S. global strategy—especially against China—as the 2026 midterms approach.

For more updates:

• Rabbi Wolicki content: [Jerusalem Post Author Page], [Israel365News YouTube], [@rabbipw on X]
• Ben Harnwell: Getter @Harnwell
• George Papadopoulos: X @GeorgePapa19

Note: Ads, station IDs, and non-content material have been omitted for clarity and focus on the substantive discussion.