This Week’s Guest: Michael Doran

Since May, Iran has carried out a half-dozen acts of sabotage against the U.S. and its allies. What’s the story behind these escalating provocations? Is Tehran looking for war? Is Washington? These questions are particularly pressing since, on this coming Friday, the world’s leading economic powers will gather in Osaka, Japan for the G20 summit, where the rising tensions and the matter of how to respond to them will loom large.

Earlier this week, Hudson Institute scholar Michael Doran offered a compelling account of the strategic thinking behind these recent Iranian actions. In “What Iran Is Really Up To,” published in Mosaic, Doran presented evidence that Iran is seeking to sow fear among European governments in the hope that they will pressure the Trump administration to reinstate two crucial waivers that would ensure the continued viability of Iran’s nuclear activities. This is part of a long game, writes Doran, to revive the 2015 deal and preserve Iran’s path to a nuclear bomb.

In our podcast this week, Michael Doran joins Jonathan Silver to explain his essay and its argument. He discusses why the revoked waivers are so important, why the Iranians believe their strategy will work, and why the biases of European governments and some prominent American Democrats play right into Iranian hands.

Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.

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Background

Every Thursday, the Tikvah Podcast at Mosaic will bring to your car/earbuds/home stereo/Alexa the latest in our efforts to advance Jewish thought. For more on the new podcast, check out our inaugural post here.

A final note: If you would like to share your thoughts on the podcast, ideas for future guests and topics, or any other form of feedback, just send us an email at [email protected]. We’re grateful for your support, and we look forward to a new year of great conversations on Jewish essays and ideas.