"Iran: Diplomacy or War?" with Beni Sabti

Description

As U.S. to Iran talks resume in Oman, Washington faces a familiar but sharpened dilemma: diplomacy, deterrence, or confrontation.

In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, Lauri Regan speaks with Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, about the strategic moment confronting the Islamic Republic and the United States. Sabti examines why negotiations narrowly focused on Iran’s nuclear program fail to address the regime’s broader missile development, regional proxy warfare, and internal repression.

He explains how Tehran has misread recent military signals, continuing its destabilizing behavior even after direct confrontation with Israel and the United States. The discussion also explores Iran’s internal unrest, the regime’s violent response to popular protests, and the limits of Western support for the Iranian opposition.

Sabti assesses the prospects for regime change, the risks and constraints facing Israel and the United States, and whether sustained pressure could alter Iran’s trajectory. The episode concludes with an examination of U.S. to Israeli coordination and the strategic uncertainty shaping Washington’s current approach.

Speaker:
Beni Sabti, Iran Expert, Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)

Host:
Lauri Regan, Middle East Forum

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