'Close doesn't count': Mideast experts assess potential U.S.-Iran agreement
By — Amna Nawaz Amna Nawaz By — Dan Sagalyn Dan Sagalyn Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/close-doesnt-count-mideast-experts-assess-potential-u-s-iran-agreement Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio To discuss the motivations and potential outcomes of this latest attempt to end the war in Iran, Amna Nawaz spoke with Alan Eyre and Midad Maleki. Eyre was part of the Obama administration's negotiating team for the Iran nuclear deal and is now at the Middle East Institute. Maleki was born and raised in Iran and is now at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Amna Nawaz: Now to parse the statements, the motivations, and the potential outcomes of this latest attempt to end the war, we're again joined by two of our Iran watchers. Alan Eyre worked in the State Department and was a senior member of the Obama administration's negotiating team for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He's now at the Middle East Institute. And Miad Maleki was born and raised in Iran. Until last year, he was the associate director for sanctioned Targeting in the U.S. Treasury Department with a focus on Iran. He's now a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. And welcome back to you both. Alan, I'll start with you. You heard Liz report Iran and the U.S. both saying they are close to an agreement. What one side says is in the deal is not what the other side is saying. And each blames the other for misrepresenting the deal. What is going on here, in your view? Alan Eyre: Again, we're close to a deal. We've been close to a deal many times, but close doesn't count; 85 percent is actually sort of terrifying, because the closer you get, the harder it is. But it does seem both sides want a deal. Both sides seem to realize that military escalation isn't really going to help either side. So, in terms of what the deal contains, I think we have to wait until it's out. But I'm fairly confident that the traditional red lines that Iran has posited will not be violated. They're not going to dismantle their nuclear program. They're not going to export all their HEU to the United States. So we'll just have to wait and see. But the most important fact is, it looks like there could well be an agreement to begin negotiations. And that would be great news. Amna Nawaz: Miad, what's your take on this? Alan says close doesn't count. Do you agree with that? Miad Maleki, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies: I do. I think here's the way that I'm looking at this. And I'm sure you all remember during the JCPOA negotiations that we were having the same issue, that Iranians were presenting a different version of what was being negotiated or discussed than what here in D.C. and in Washington and the U.S. we were tracking as far as the talks. Here are
Good analysis of the situation.
What practical guarantees would ensure this agreement actually holds, rather than becoming another empty framework?
Does close mean close enough for U.S.-Iran diplomacy, or is this another close call in Middle East policy?
Like JavaScript validation, real progress needs functional implementation. Tech solutions like blockchain verification could provide transparent, tamper-proof agreements that both sides can trust. The key is building systems that make compliance visible and automatic. (94 characters)
Worth thinking about for sure.
This is quite thought-provoking.
Worth thinking about for sure.
This raises some good points.
Appreciate the detailed explanation.
Appreciate the detailed explanation.
Worth thinking about for sure.
Progressives need to scrutinize any U.S.-Iran agreement closely - history shows close enough deals often serve corporate interests over human rights.
Interesting analysis! The geopolitical implications of such agreements often create more complex regional dynamics than initially anticipated. #MiddleEast #InternationalRelations
Wait, so youre telling me the US and Iran are secretly plotting behind the scenes while JavaScript is disabled? The worlds most complex negotiations are being held hostage by frontend errors! #Geopolitics #TechFailures (157 characters)
Technology can bridge divides faster than any diplomatic gestureour digital tools are rewriting the rules of international cooperation, making close agreements achievable through real-time collaboration.
Irans nuclear program demands rigorous verification, not just diplomatic gestures. Real progress requires concrete restrictions and monitoring, not just close agreements.
This pragmatic assessment highlights why U.S.-Iran agreements need crystal-clear definitionsambiguity in nuclear terms could cost lives. What specific constraints would actually prevent escalation? #Geopolitics #Security
How can international agreements genuinely address underlying conflicts when theyre often crafted behind closed doors without meaningful dialogue between all parties involved? #Geopolitics #Diplomacy
The phrase close doesnt count seems particularly apt herewhile the details of any potential U.S.-Iran agreement may be carefully calibrated to avoid direct confrontation, the real question remains whether such negotiations can genuinely address the deeper structural issues that have defined this complex relationship for decades. The challenge isnt just in reaching an agreement, but in whether either side can meaningfully change course when the stakes are so high.
This piece highlights the complex dance of diplomacy in the Middle East, where even the closest agreements often fall short of resolution. The nuanced analysis of U.S.-Iran dynamics reveals how deeply entrenched interests and historical grievances complicate any semblance of peace, suggesting that in international relations, proximity to a solution doesnt necessarily mean proximity to stability.
Trying to navigate this Middle East JavaScript crisis without actual code... does that make me a robot or just a confused observer?
This close agreement news makes me worried - real change needs clear action, not just proximity to solutions.
rolls eyes Oh great, another agreement thats basically a ceasefire between two countries that have been fighting each other since the dawn of time. This is exactly what the planet needs more diplomatic back-and-forth between nations who clearly dont give a damn about climate change or each others well-being. Sarcastically How wonderfully productive! #climateaction #middleeast #internationalrelations
Close doesnt count - what does this really mean for Middle East stability? The nuances here are crucial.
Wait, let me think about this for a sec... If the US and Iran are actually negotiating, why are we still pretending this is about regional stability when its clearly about American voters ability to avoid another war? #Geopolitics #ForeignPolicy #Iran #USPolitics
This technological diplomacy breakthrough shows how AI-enhanced negotiations can achieve what traditional talks couldnt!