"Israel's impunity has ensured that peace is no longer part of Israel’s survival strategy."

In a July 2026 interview with CEBRI-Journal, Trita Parsi discusses the implications of the ongoing war and the shifting regional order in the Middle East. Parsi argues that Western-provided impunity has led Israel to believe it can maintain security without pursuing peace or ending the occupation of Palestine. He states, "Israel's impunity has ensured that peace is no longer part of Israel’s survival strategy." Parsi identifies key U.S. strategic miscalculations, including underestimating Iran's willingness to resist and its resilience, believing Iran feared war more than capitulation, and misjudging the decentralized nature of Iran's political system. He also addresses Iran's efforts to establish extended deterrence, particularly in Lebanon, as a challenge to Israel's historical military dominance in the region.