The video is a geopolitics-focused LiveNOW segment about U.S.-Iran negotiations unfolding alongside strikes in Iran and renewed Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Guest Jonathan Shanzer argues Iran is the main spoiler, says the U.S. still wants a deal, and thinks continued pressure on Iran may be more effective than concessions. He also frames any deal through the lens of Trump’s Abraham Accords legacy and Israeli domestic politics.
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This segment centers on rapidly evolving Middle East conflict diplomacy: U.S. strikes in southern Iran, ongoing negotiations with Iran, and Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The anchor opens by citing Reuters reporting that Marco Rubio said a deal with Iran could still be days away, despite recent “self-defense strikes” by the U.S. in southern Iran. The broadcast also mentions possible deal terms: an end to the war, gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran giving up its enriched uranium stockpile. The segment then brings on Jonathan Shanzer of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies for assessment. Shanzer’s core view is that Iran, not the U.S., is the main obstacle to a deal. He says the Trump administration wants an agreement and is working with regional partners, but the Islamic Republic has historically blocked U.S. …
Near term, the setup is fragile: talks are still alive, but every new strike or leak can jolt shipping, oil, and risk assets. Tactical attention should stay on Hormuz headlines, any Iran response, and whether the U.S. signals a concession or a harder line.
Over weeks to months, the base case in the segment is continued pressure-cooker diplomacy with intermittent escalation rather than a clean breakthrough. A more durable directional call would depend on whether Iran yields on nuclear terms or whether the U.S. pivots from negotiation back toward sustained coercion.
Structurally, the video argues that Iranian behavior is driven by a regime that resists compromise and is vulnerable mainly to persistent pressure. If that view holds, the long-run regime implication is a Middle East organized more around normalization with Israel and containment of Iran than around a grand bargain.
A deal with Iran could still be days away despite recent U.S. strikes.
The anchor cites Reuters and Rubio saying a deal could be days away after strikes in southern Iran.
Iran is the main spoiler in the negotiations because it keeps rejecting core U.S. nuclear demands.
Shanzer repeatedly says Iran throws up roadblocks and says no to core demands on the nuclear file.
Continued negotiations after the strikes may indicate the diplomacy is still viable.
He says the continuation of diplomatic engagement despite hostilities is probably a good sign for Rubio.
How much closer are we today to actually reaching a deal with Iran based on what we're hearing from the US and Iran?
Jonathan Shanzer argues that Iran is the spoiler in negotiations, consistently throwing up roadblocks on core US demands especially the nuclear file. He expresses surprise that diplomatic engagement continues despite the strikes, viewing it as a good sign for Marco Rubio's push to finish a deal.
Why does President Trump feel it's particularly important for Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to join the Abraham Accords and why is he pushing this as part of ending the war?
Shanzer explains this is part of Trump's legacy from his first term, when he got the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco into the Accords and had planned to include the Saudis before losing the election. He sees it as Trump trying to create conditions so the end of the war looks like a victory, since simply ending the war with the regime still in place would draw criticism. He also suggests Indonesia as another potential addition to the Accords.
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