The Daily

The Secret Push to Strike Iran

Sep 6, 2019

Mark Mazzetti, a Washington investigative correspondent for The New York Times, uncovers the hidden tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran over nuclear weapon development. He reveals the narrow escapes from war pushed by Israeli leaders, particularly Netanyahu’s aggressive military strategies. Mazzetti discusses the fallout from the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal and how Israel's internal dissent complicates responses to Iran's ambitions. He also highlights how election politics influence foreign policy decisions during critical moments.

27:43

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Episode guests

Mark Mazzetti

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Geopolitical Tensions: The Iran Nuclear Deal Fallout

10min

Election Politics and Iran: A Tense Intersection

7min

Israel, the U.S., and the Iran Deal

8min

Political Turmoil and the Call for New Elections

3min

For almost two decades, the United States and Israel have tried to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Israeli leaders — including the current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu — have pushed for a military strike on Iran, a prospect that American presidents have long opposed. But a Times investigation reveals a secret history that shows how close the three countries came to war. Guest: Mark Mazzetti, a Washington investigative correspondent for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Background reading:

Interviews with dozens of current and former American, Israeli and European officials over several months reveal the startling details of a narrowly averted war and raise questions about how President Trump will respond.
Moving further away from the 2015 nuclear agreement, Iran said on Thursday that it had stopped honoring the deal’s limits on research and development.

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