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WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Will the U.S. and Iran Go to War?

WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

The Wall Street Journal

News, Society & Culture

4.22.8K Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2026

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner begin a round of indirect talks with Iranian officials over the country’s nuclear program and ballistic missiles. President Trump says he wants a diplomatic solution, but has he effectively made his case to the American people if he decides to launch a possible strike on Iran? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:38.8

From the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, this is Potomac Watch.

0:47.0

Will President Trump go to war with Iran? That's the question. The president is mulling as his negotiators meet in Geneva with Iranian officials over the country's nuclear program and its ballistic missiles, and the U.S.

0:57.6

builds a enormous military armada force in the Middle East.

1:03.3

What are the stakes for both Iran and for the Trump administration, the Trump presidency?

1:09.6

If the president does or does not decide to strike Iran.

1:15.5

That's our subject for today on Potomac Watch.

1:17.6

I'm Paul Giego here on the Daily podcast of Wall Street Journal Opinion.

1:21.8

And I'm here with Elliot Kaufman, who is following events closely in Iran and the Middle East.

1:27.0

Welcome, Elliot.

1:28.1

President Trump's negotiator Steve Whitkoff and Jared Kushner are today meeting in Geneva

1:33.2

with Iranian officials.

1:34.9

They call it indirect talks because apparently the Iranians don't want to have direct talks,

1:39.9

but basically they're using an interlocutor to talk to the Iranians. Let's listen first to Secretary of State Marco Rubio talk about where things stand. I want you to understand and everyone should know that Iran poses a very great threat to the United States and has for a very long time. They are in possession. First and foremost, after their nuclear program was obliterated, they were told not to try to restart it. And here they are, you can see them always trying to rebuild elements of it.

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