What Comes Next After Failed U.S.-Iran Talks, With Elliott Abrams

This episode unpacks the U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Islamabad and the prospect of a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Host:

James M. Lindsay (cfr.org/experts/james-m-lindsay), Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR

Guest:

Elliott Abrams (cfr.org/experts/elliott-abrams), Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, CFR

We Discuss:

• What transpired during the U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad.

• Whether both sides abandoned their own preconditions before talks began.

• How unusually senior and small the negotiating delegations were.

• What the logic and mechanics of the U.S. naval blockade are.

• Why other countries have not joined the blockade and may resist it.

• What the Arab Gulf states are privately urging Washington to do.

• Whether Israel and the U.S. share the same goals regarding the Iranian regime.

Mentioned on the Episode:

Vice President JD Vance Delivers Remarks in Islamabad, Pakistan (whitehouse.gov/videos/vice-president-jd-vance-…), April 11, 2026

Harry Sekulich and Kate Whannel, "Starmer Says UK Will Not Join Trump's Blockade of Iran's Ports (bbc.com/news/articles/c393wxzw4yjo)," BBC

Defense Technical Information Agency, "Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities (apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA501008)," October 1, 2007

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/what-comes-n…

Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.