Today, Explained Iran, Israel, and Trump
118 snips
Jun 17, 2025 
Nahal Tusi, a senior foreign affairs correspondent for Politico, and Andrew Prokop, a senior correspondent at Vox, dive into the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. They discuss the surprising rifts within the MAGA movement regarding foreign intervention. The two explore Israel's military assessments of Iran as an existential threat and the complexities of U.S.-Israel relations. They critique the evolving 'America First' ideology, revealing how domestic interests are reshaping Republican foreign policy stances. This insightful conversation sheds light on the potential implications for global stability.
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Israel Views Iran as Existential Threat
- Israel sees Iran's nuclear and missile programs as an existential threat and attacks when Iran appears vulnerable.
- Israel's timing reflects a strategic decision amid ongoing regional conflicts and weakening of Iranian proxies.
US Defensive Role in Conflict
- The US is currently helping Israel defensively but not offensively in attacks on Iran.
- American involvement could escalate if Iranian forces target US troops directly.
US-Iran Talks and Israeli Distrust
- US-Iran nuclear talks are on hold but not completely dead; Iran remains flexible yet firm on uranium enrichment.
- Israel deeply distrusts Iran and doubts any deal would assure their security needs.