Front Burner

Is Iran becoming a 'forever war'?

Is there a path back to peace after the latest escalation in the U.S. war with Iran?

CBC News · Posted: Jul 23, 2026 6:00 AM EDT \| Last Updated: 2 hours ago

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Front Burner27:28Is Iran becoming a 'forever war'?

On Wednesday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb one Iranian bridge or powerplant every time a ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz gets shot at. It’s yet more evidence that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is over, after twelve days of renewed military escalation.

As the conflict wades into this next phase, we look at how things fell apart, the damage taken on both sides, and whether we're headed into endless war.

Trita Parsi joins us. He is the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute and the author of several books about the U.S and Iran, including Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States.

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