Episode Notes:

Today, President Trump has given his approval to Acting Secretary of Defense Shanahan to deploy 1500 troops as well as additional military resources to the Persian Gulf area region in order to deter Iranian threats in the region.

Afshon Ostovar, Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and author of the book, Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards, joins the Warcast to discuss the U.S. interests at risk and the Iranian experience of the situation. (~12 minutes)

[ 0:17 ] Introduction
[ 1:10 ] Most vulnerable U.S. assets and interests to Iran
[ 3:30 ] The Administration's threat assessment and its maximum pressure campaign
[ 6:24 ] How the situation is interpreted by Iranians
[ 9:32 ] How much misperception matters

Twitter: @AOstovar