For America, the War’s Benefits Won’t Outweigh Its Costs; Both Sides Want to Dictate the Terms—but Neither Truly Can; How America Can Avoid a Russian-Style Quagmire
Foreign Affairs Today

March 27, 2026 | View in Browser

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A United States Air Force bomber in Fairford, Britain, March 2026 

The Price of Strategic Incoherence in Iran

For America, the War’s Benefits Won’t Outweigh Its Costs

By Richard K. Betts and Stephen Biddle

 

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Standing amid buildings damaged in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, Tehran, March 2026

Can America and Iran Reach a Cease-Fire?

Both Sides Want to Dictate the Terms—but Neither Truly Can

By Ellie Geranmayeh

 
A residential building damaged by a strike in Tehran, Iran, March 2026 

The War in Iran Could Become Like the War in Ukraine

How America Can Avoid a Russian-Style Quagmire

By James F. Jeffrey

 

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Foreign Affairs Virtual Grad School Fair

 Connect With Top Schools at the Spring 2026 Graduate School Fair 

Foreign Affairs is pleased to invite you to the winter edition of our Open House. Join representatives from top programs in international studies, public policy, and diplomacy on April 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET from the comfort and convenience of your personal device. At this event, you’ll be able to explore different programs and connect directly with admissions officials through live one-on-one chats.

 

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An oil tanker and a U.S. Coast Guard vessel off the coast of Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 2026

America’s New Way of Economic War

The Dangers of a Strategy With No Doctrine

By Peter E. Harrell

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