Ep.210: Waiting for the shoe to drop on Iran

Ep.210: Waiting for the shoe to drop on Iran

From Think Twice with Jonathan Tobin by JNS Podcasts

February 26, 2026 · 57 min

About this episode

Jonathan Tobin discusses U.S. foreign policy towards Iran with Elliott Abrams, focusing on the likelihood of military conflict and diplomatic negotiations.

The main question to be asked about President Donald Trump’s foreign policy is not the immediate one about whether or when the United States will attack Iran, important though that may be. Rather, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, it’s understanding that, his critics’ claims notwithstanding, far from being isolationist, Trump’s approach is one of selective use of force only when he perceives it to be in America’s direct interest. Tobin is joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by veteran diplomat and Tikvah Fund head Elliott Abrams. He believes that a negotiated deal between the United States and Iran that might prevent a military conflict are highly unlikely. Abrams asserts that after the severe losses they suffered during last year’s 12-day war on Iran by Israel and the United States, Trump thought Tehran understood that it was in no position to avoid making real concessions on its nuclear program and other issues. But the Iranians clearly are more worried about looking weak in the eyes of its restive population. The Islamists are also, Abrams says, much like the Palestinians in their thinking about the conflict. They believe that demonstrating their willingness to…

People in this episode

Host: Jonathan Tobin

Guest: Elliott Abrams

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tikvah Fund

Places: Iran, United States, Israel

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