What left to my mind when the blockade was announced this,

then it would have been the logical place to begin the war.

Gahy, humans.

Welcome to the safe space for dangerous ideas.

Well, we all have many dangerous and uncomfortable questions about the end game of the blockade and the war in Iran.

Last week, it seemed like the end may have been in sight with a two-week ceasefire.

Then talks in Pakistan between the US Vice President and the Iranians went nowhere,

and President Trump suddenly imposed

a blockade of the Straits of Hormuz. That went into effect on Monday, and US forces say that

they've now completely halted all economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.

Iran's armed forces say they'll retaliate if the blockade

continues. Where does the escalation lead? Does President Trump have anything left up his sleeve?

What exit ramps are there for either side? I wanted answers to all these questions and more.

And the perfect man to offer them is

Stephen Simon, who served in the US State Department. He specialized in Middle East and

counterterrorism policy in President Clinton's National Security Council. President

Obama then brought him back into the White House to serve as the NSC's senior director

for the Middle East and North Africa,

so he has some pedigree.

He's a leading world expert on Iran.

In 2011, he co-wrote a book called The Sixth Crisis, Iran, Israel, America and the

Rumors of War.

...