Dialogue Works

Amb. Chas Freeman & Trita Parsi: How the Iran-Israel War Changed EVERYTHING Overnight


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Nima Rostami Alkhorshid:

  1. Why did the latest talks between Steve Witkoff and Hamas fail, and why does the U.S. seem unwilling to accept Hamas’s requests for humanitarian aid in Gaza?
  2. Given Donald Trump’s statement that Hamas “wants to die,” do you see this as a genuine assessment or a justification for imposing surrender terms?
  3. Emmanuel Macron has announced intentions to recognize Palestine—do you believe this is a sincere move, and why delay it to September?
  4. Keir Starmer named Iran as a threat to the UK—do you understand why Iran would be considered a direct threat to Britain?
  5. With reports of an Israeli plan targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, was the real objective regime change, and what might a new attack aim to achieve?


Trita Parsi:

  1. The U.S. and Israel aren’t negotiating peace but imposing surrender terms. Hamas asked for food and medicine, which Israel rejected as part of a strategy to starve Gaza—Witkoff, aligned with Israel, walked out.
  2. Trump’s narrative mirrors Biden’s: blaming Hamas while ignoring that Israel often rejects deals. This reflects donor influence—like Miriam Adelson—and ideological Zionism within the administration.
  3. Macron’s recognition is symbolic. The real effort was a June conference delayed after Israel bombed Iran. France may be acting now due to rising Gaza starvation and domestic pressure to escape complicity.
  4. Iran is not a military threat to the UK. European views shifted due to Iran’s support for Russia in Ukraine, but direct threat claims are exaggerated—unless mismanagement pushes Iran toward nuclear weapons.
  5. The goal isn’t regime change but regime collapse—decapitation without responsibility. Israel wants to fragment Iran, create internal chaos, and achieve air dominance, similar to its strategies in Lebanon and Syria.


Ambassador Chas Freeman:

  1. The U.S. negotiates with Israel about Palestinians, not with Palestinians themselves. The current approach is about imposing Israeli terms, not peace.
  2. Israel’s actions—starving Gaza, denying medical care—are part of a deliberate strategy. Their denials are fabrications, increasingly disbelieved globally.
  3. Recognition of Palestine is symbolic. Without Israeli consent, it changes nothing. By September, there may be few Palestinians left in Gaza to recognize.
  4. The idea that Iran threatens the UK is laughable. Britain overestimates its relevance. The real danger is that U.S.-Israeli actions are pushing Iran toward nuclear weapons for self-deterrence.
  5. Israel seeks not regime change but regime removal—chaos and fragmentation. They failed to decapitate Iran’s leadership, but will likely try again. Iran is resilient and will respond hard, risking a far worse conflict.

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Dialogue WorksBy Nima Rostami Alkhorshid