Podcast Summary: Bloomberg Talks – Richard Haass on Iran War

Date: April 7, 2026
Guest: Richard Haass (President Emeritus, Council on Foreign Relations; Senior Counselor, Centerview Partners)
Host: Bloomberg

Episode Overview

This episode features Richard Haass discussing the mounting tensions and diplomatic maneuvering around the Iran conflict. As the clock ticks toward an 8pm deadline for potential escalation, Haass provides a candid assessment of U.S. strategy, potential off-ramps, the realities of Iranian regime resilience, and the challenges of achieving meaningful and lasting solutions. The conversation focuses on realpolitik, the limits of military action, and the critical importance of diplomatic channels—even when direct dialogue with adversaries is lacking.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The State of Diplomacy and Next Steps

• Pakistan's Role
  • Pakistan is uniquely positioned as it maintains good relations with the U.S., Iran, and China.
  • Pakistan is key in diplomacy and is helping "buy more time," given Iran still ships oil through the Strait of Hormuz via their territory.
  • Haass: "They've been one of the few countries that Iran continues to ship oil to through the Strait of Hormuz. And the idea that they're essentially trying to buy more time is realistic." (01:21)
• Diplomatic Momentum
  • There’s recognition that a comprehensive deal—covering nuclear issues or reopening the strait—is impossible to achieve before tonight’s deadline, but a pause or extension is realistic and positive.
  • Haass is cautious about any U.S. military escalation, warning against following through on President Trump's threats, fearing it could trigger a "much more destructive wider war." (01:53)

Potential Off-Ramps and Priorities

• Defining Off-Ramps
  • Haass identifies three core priorities:
    1. Stop the war.
    2. Open the Strait of Hormuz.
    3. Place a "verifiable ceiling" on Iran's nuclear program.
  • The most urgent: immediately reopening the Strait and achieving a ceasefire, with the nuclear issue to be tackled in later negotiations.
  • Haass: "...There's no way you can get them done quickly, but I would think the most urgent is to get the strait open and to get some type of a cease fire, or hopefully more than that. And then over time, I think you can address the nuclear program through negotiations." (02:53)
• Realism About Outcomes
  • Haass repeatedly emphasizes that maximalist aims—such as regime change or permanent disarmament—are unrealistic.
  • Haass: "You've got to set achievable, reasonable objectives ... There has to be some close connection between your hands and the means that you're prepared to employ to bring them about." (05:25)
  • The path forward relies on diplomacy and limited, targeted military actions when absolutely necessary.

Military Options: Limitations and Risks

• Elimination vs. Degradation
  • The idea of “eliminating” Iran's drone or missile capabilities is futile—these can be built in basements, hidden, or regenerated.
  • Haass: "Eliminated is too ambitious. Iran can continue to produce drones... Missiles, you'll never find all of them. You can degrade, you can diminish military capability. But if your goal is to effectively disarm, then you're talking about perpetual war." (04:09)
• Concerns about Targeting Civilian Infrastructure
  • Destruction of civilian infrastructure (bridges, power plants) could backfire, undermining U.S. interests postwar by demoralizing the Iranian population and reducing prospects for cooperation.
  • Haass is skeptical that even successful attacks would achieve desired strategic outcomes.

Iranian Regime Resilience & U.S. Objectives

• No Regime Collapse
  • Haass dismisses the notion that the regime is near collapse, stating it's "preposterous"—it remains deeply entrenched and institutionalized.
  • Haass: "This is a regime that's heavily institutionalized. This is not Venezuela. We're not talking about removing a slice and everything crumbles. This is a deeply institutionalized, institutionalized religious, political and military establishment." (06:37)
  • In fact, recent crises have consolidated the regime's position.
• Refuting White House Rhetoric
  • President Trump's assertion of “complete and total regime change” is vigorously disputed by Haass.
  • Haass: "We should, for the time being, accept the unfortunate fact that the regime is going to stay, the Iranian people are going to be the losers." (06:53)

U.S. Policy Choices Going Forward

• Staying or Walking Away
  • While the President could theoretically declare victory and disengage, Haass warns this would be reckless ("we broke it, you own it").
  • He advocates for a middle ground: limited military options and renewed diplomatic efforts are both available and preferable.
  • Haass: "So I think walking away from it, quite honestly, would be irresponsible. The good news is there's a lot of space between walking away from it on one hand and doing what the president talked about, bombing bridges and power plants. There's a lot of space for certain limited military operations. More important, there's a lot of space for diplomacy." (07:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Military Escalation:
  “I simply don't see the upside of the United States carrying out the threats that President Trump made. I simply don't see what, what, if anything, positive we get for it. But I do think it could lead to a much more destructive wider war.”
  — Richard Haass (01:53)

• On Regime Resilience:
  “This is not Venezuela… This is a deeply institutionalized, institutionalized religious, political and military establishment.”
  — Richard Haass (06:37)

• On Setting Realistic Goals:
  “The most ambitious aims are simply non starters. Realistic aims are the ones I talked about to put a ceiling on Iran's nuclear program, probably through diplomacy, and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. I think those are both essential. The good news is they're, they're potentially feasible as well.”
  — Richard Haass (05:39)

• On Walking Away:
  “I think walking away from it, quite honestly, would be irresponsible ... there's a lot of space for diplomacy. That should be our focus.”
  — Richard Haass (07:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:36 – Host introduces Richard Haass and sets up the discussion about the current Iran crisis.
• 01:13 – Haass discusses Pakistan's diplomatic importance and the push for more time.
• 02:48 – Key priorities for any resolution: ceasefire, open Strait of Hormuz, nuclear oversight.
• 04:09 – Realities of military limitations: drones, missiles, and perpetual conflict.
• 05:09 – Regime change dismissed as unattainable; focus on realistic objectives.
• 06:22 – Detailed refutation of U.S. administration's claims about regime collapse.
• 07:26 – The strategic dangers of “walking away” vs. escalation; advocates for targeted diplomacy.

Tone & Takeaway:
Haass is direct, measured, and realistic—he stresses the power of diplomacy, the risks of maximalist messaging, and the durability of Iran’s current regime. Listeners come away with a clear-eyed view of the complexity, urgency, and the potential (albeit limited) avenues for avoiding further escalation in the Iran conflict.