Carys Garland is pleased to welcome Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies and International Politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. Amid the latest escalation between Iran, Israel, and the US, Lucas warns that both Tehran and Jerusalem are increasingly willing to act independently of Washington’s preferences, exposing what he describes as Donald Trump’s diminishing ability to dictate events. He also argues that Tehran is actively seeking to reshape the diplomatic framework, insisting on linking developments in Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and regional security into a single bargaining process.