KQED's Forum U.S. Weighs Role It Should Play in Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict
Jun 20, 2025
Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute and an expert on U.S.-Iran relations, joins Robin Wright, a contributing writer for The New Yorker and author on Middle Eastern politics. They discuss the escalating Israel-Iran conflict and examine the implications of President Trump's potential military decisions. The conversation dives into the historical context of Israeli aggression and Iran’s nuclear ambitions, while also highlighting the complexities of U.S. involvement and the broader geopolitical landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Israel's Aggressive Strike and Iranian Response
- Israel launched large-scale missile attacks aiming for complete war against Iran's military and nuclear scientists.
- Iran quickly regained control and responded, showing the initial Israeli disruption was less extensive than anticipated.
Iran's Nuclear Capability and Intentions
- Iran is close to uranium enrichment but lacks full bomb weaponization.
- Intentions may be deterrence, not immediate attack, reflecting regime paranoia and self-preservation.
Trump's Changed Red Line Derails Negotiations
- Trump's shift from a 'no weaponization' to Israeli 'zero enrichment' red line doomed diplomacy.
- Israel's attacks seem aimed to sabotage talks, expecting U.S. war intervention.
