Episode 92: Dennis Ross, Michael Singh, and Israel/Iran Relations
"There are signs that the Iranians would want sanctions relief, but they also have the ability to endure and don't seem to mind imposing real austerity on their own country. Economic leverage is a lever that can work but obviously by itself is not sufficient."
On today's show, a special program that delves into the torrid world of mideast politics with two of our country's greatest experts-- Ambassador Dennis Ross and Michael Singh. The two guests and Daniel explore where things really are with the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) and how the US can perhaps get a process back on track. How desperate should we be do re-enter the agreement? What about the behavior of the new administration is helping Israel's confidence in our goals? How is the Biden administration operating differently-- or similarly-- to that of Trump? The conversation also features an extended section about diplomacy, and how one can conduct diplomacy over the internet. Prospects for optimism also play a role near the end of this wide-ranging discussion.
Ambassador Dennis Ross is counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Prior to returning to the Institute in 2011, he served two years as special assistant to President Obama and National Security Council senior director for the Central Region, and a year as special advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Michael Singh is the Lane-Swig Senior Fellow and managing director at The Washington Institute and a former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council.
During his tenure at the White House from 2005 to 2008, Mr. Singh was responsible for devising and coordinating U.S. national security policy toward the region stretching from Morocco to Iran, with a particular emphasis on Iran’s nuclear and regional activities, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Syria, and security cooperation in the broader Middle East. Previously, Mr. Singh served as special assistant to secretaries of state Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell and at the U.S. embassy in Israel.
