The Negotiators

In a special season-ending bonus episode recorded live at the Doha Forum, International Peace Institute President Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein sits down with former U.S. negotiator Rob Malley to reflect on the collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and the fate of the Iran nuclear deal. In this wide-ranging conversation, Malley revisits why earlier talks failed, the realities shaping diplomacy today, and what future negotiators must understand if these conflicts are ever to be resolved. The Negotiators is a podcast from Foreign Policy and Doha Debates—and a special partner this season, the International Peace Institute.

The United States and Iran have sparred for decades. But in 2015, during President Barack Obama’s second term, the two countries successfully negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known more plainly as the Iran nuclear deal. The deal was hailed as a breakthrough in much of the world, but it also had its critics. In 2018, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the JCPOA, and Iran went back to expanding its nuclear program. Mohammad Javad Zarif was Iran’s foreign minister and lead negotiator during the talks. In this episode, Zarif offers a rare glimpse into the Iranian perspective, why the agreement failed, and what it would take to negotiate a new deal. The Negotiators is a podcast from Foreign Policy and Doha Debates—and a special partner this season, the International Peace Institute.

When her son went missing in Sri Lanka’s civil war, Visaka Dharmadasa began organizing other families of missing soldiers. What started as a search for answers led her and a small group of mothers across front lines to meet with the Tamil Tigers. Soon, Dharmadasa found herself shuttling messages between the Tigers and the Sri Lankan government, opening a rare channel of communication that helped build trust. In this episode, Dharmadasa reflects on loss, shuttle diplomacy, and why women’s participation in peace efforts still matters 25 years after U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325. The Negotiators is a podcast from Foreign Policy and Doha Debates—and a special partner this season, the International Peace Institute.

Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, founder of the International Civil Society Action Network and a leading voice in peacebuilding, shares her transformative journey in advocating for women's roles in peace processes. She discusses how witnessing crises and journalism shaped her mission, leading to the historic U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325. Sanam highlights the importance of women's perspectives in conflict and the ongoing struggle to ensure their voices are not sidelined. Her engaging anecdotes reveal both the victories and the challenges still faced in the quest for true gender equality in peace and security.

Aminath Shauna, former environment minister of the Maldives, is a passionate climate negotiator who has fought tirelessly for loss and damage financing. She shares her journey from battling developing country skepticism to securing a monumental deal at COP27. With anecdotes of diving with negotiators and the strategic pivot to 'particularly vulnerable,' she reveals the power of relationship-building and coalition work in climate diplomacy. Shauna's insights highlight the emotional stakes of negotiations, emphasizing the need to focus on the most affected communities.

Mickey Bergman, an Israeli-American hostage negotiator, and Majid al-Ansari, a senior Qatari mediator, dive into the intricate negotiations that secured hostage releases and brokered a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Mickey reveals the emotional toll of negotiating amid trauma, while Majid discusses the significance of Qatar's mediating role and how trust was built between opposing sides. They share insights on the delicate balance of political dynamics and the urgent need for collaborative solutions in the region.

Vanessa Frazier, Malta's former UN Permanent Representative, shares her insights on negotiating humanitarian pauses during the Gaza conflict. She highlights Malta's unique approach as a small state advocating for multilateralism. Frazier reveals the subtle language manipulations crucial for gaining consensus within the Security Council, such as avoiding the word 'ceasefire.' She also discusses the importance of children's welfare in her negotiations and the successful outcome, which resulted in aid deliveries and the release of hostages, showcasing the power of diplomacy amidst crisis.

David Gressly, the former UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, shares his gripping experience of averting an environmental catastrophe from the FSO Safer oil tanker. He discusses the daunting negotiations with Houthi leaders and the Yemeni government to secure a plan for oil transfer, emphasizing the dire regional implications of a spill. Gressly reveals how he navigated local skepticism, orchestrated funding, and managed operational hurdles while ensuring the safety of the salvage crew. His story highlights resilience amidst a humanitarian crisis and the complexities of diplomacy in conflict.

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, a seasoned diplomat and human-rights lawyer, shares his experiences from leading negotiations on the crime of aggression in Kampala. He discusses the challenges of reconciling political divides among 193 countries and the complexities of defining aggression. Zeid reveals how time pressure and a motivational pep talk from Nuremberg prosecutor Ben Ferencz helped secure consensus. He recounts pivotal moments such as peeling the UK away from P5 opposition and the dramatic late-night drafting that ultimately led to a historic agreement.

The Negotiators is back with a new host and all new stories from some of the world's most dramatic negotiations. Journalist Femi Oke takes us behind the scenes at a luxury resort in Uganda, as government representatives gather to establish the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction to prosecute leaders for unjust wars. We'll go scuba diving through endangered coral reefs in the Red Sea with the environment minister of the Maldives, as she attempts to sway US Climate Envoy John Kerry. And we'll take a peek inside the negotiations for the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that ended the war in Gaza – with one of the Qatari officials who helped make it happen.The Negotiators returns December 1, from Foreign Policy and Doha Debates -- and our special partner this season, the International Peace Institute.