Ariel Cohen, a geopolitical expert from the Atlantic Council, discusses the escalating tensions between the US and Iran following recent missile strikes. He highlights Iran's largely symbolic retaliations and the careful military communication involved. Torsten Slok, Chief Economist at Apollo Global Management, analyzes the consequences for global markets, including plummeting oil prices and rising long-term interest rates driven by geopolitical stress. The conversation dives into the dynamic interplay of military action and economic stability in the region.
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insights INSIGHT
Iran's Symbolic Retaliation
Iran's missile attack on the U.S. base in Qatar was a symbolic show of force rather than a full-scale retaliation.
Both sides appear to be seeking an off-ramp to avoid further escalation of conflict.
insights INSIGHT
Risks of Striking Iran's Nuclear Sites
Previous administrations avoided striking Iran's nuclear sites due to fear of severe retaliation.
The current strikes risk triggering unknown, potentially disastrous consequences that might escalate into a broader conflict.
insights INSIGHT
Legitimacy Concerns Over US Strikes
The U.S. bombing Iran represents a preventive strike without an imminent threat, raising questions about international legitimacy.
This action may risk undermining U.S. authority by setting a precedent for other countries to attack sovereign states.
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Iran fired missiles at a US air base in Qatar after promising it would respond “proportionately and decisively” to President Donald Trump’s weekend airstrikes on three of its nuclear facilities. There were no reported casualties in the attack on Al Udeid base — the biggest such US facility in the Middle East — amid signs Iran gave advance notice of the strike plan. Qatar said the missile barrage was intercepted and the base had been evacuated in advance. Oil plunged on relief that Tehran’s limited response didn’t target energy supplies. The salvo marks another widening in the conflict that began 10 days ago when Israel attacked Iran, targeting nuclear and missile installations and military leaders. Iran has responded with several days of missile strikes on Israel, and the war threatened to escalate after the US joined the campaign with a bunker-buster bombing raid.
Iran’s move “looks like a largely symbolic retaliation,” saud Ziad Daoud, Bloomberg Economics’ chief emerging-market economist. “Plenty of warning was given — Qatar shut its airspace and the US issued warnings to citizens.” Trump said the nuclear sites struck by the US were totally destroyed, and vowed to meet any Iranian retaliation with force “far greater” than those weekend strikes. He also hinted at the possibility of “regime change” in Iran, though US officials stressed that isn’t their aim. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes had the “limited” objective of eliminating Iran’s atomic program. Officials have said it’s too early to definitely assess damage.
There was no immediate indication of how the US will respond to Monday’s Iranian missile launch. The administration was anticipating that Iran would retaliate, and doesn’t want more military engagement in the region, CNN cited a senior White House official as saying. The attack included at least six missiles fired toward Al Udeid — the regional headquarters for US Central Command, which oversees the American military in the region, and home to several thousand US service-members — according to a person familiar with the matter.
Today's show features:
Bloomberg News National Security Team Leader Nick Wadhams on potential Iran retaliation and security back in the US
Ariel Cohen, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council on Geopolitical Tensions in Middle East
Torsten Slok, Chief Economist and Partner at Apollo Global Management
and we Drive to the Close with Megan Horneman, Verdence Capital Advisors CIO
Bloomberg Businessweek 