The current U.S. effort to economically weaken and diplomatically subdue Iran seems like the very definition of a “maximum pressure” campaign. But maximum pressure doesn’t mean optimal pressure.

If the U.S. wants Iran to engage in new talks to replace a 2015 nuclear deal, is the current approach the best way to go about that? What makes a successful pressure campaign and is this one of them?

This week on Wake we’ll talk to the Rand Corporation's Ariane Tabatabai about the big picture of the US-Iran standoff, what both sides want and what to expect in the months ahead.

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Taped: May 10, 2019.

Hosted by Luke Vargas.