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As the Trump administration weighs its next move on Iran, Israel faces a familiar but uncomfortable question: What happens if Washington reaches a deal that Jerusalem believes leaves the Iranian threat unresolved?

In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Michael Oren about the lessons of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, how Israel should navigate disagreements with its closest ally, and whether the Jewish state is entering a new era of strategic self-reliance.

They discuss President Trump's approach to Iran, the conditions under which a deal might be acceptable from Israel's perspective, and the continuing threat posed by Hezbollah. The conversation also explores whether Israel should seek new military capabilities that would allow it to act independently against future Iranian nuclear threats.

Finally, they turn to a different but related concern: the resurgence of antisemitic tropes in mainstream discourse, the growing normalization of conspiracy theories involving Jews and Israel, and what these trends may mean for Jewish communities around the world.

Guest Bio:

Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy.

He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group.

More from Dr. Michael Oren

A Time for Intimacy