Engaging Iran with Michael Young (Ep.427)

An episode looking at the possibilities for state-to-state engagement, direct diplomacy and constructive dialogue between Lebanon and Iran. With Michael Young - senior editor at Carnegie’s Middle East Center and editor of Diwan. Articles mentioned in this episode include "Israel can inflict even more damage if Hezbollah doesn't disarm" https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/08/13/how-much-damage-can-israel-cause-if-hezbollah-doesnt-disarm/ "Hezbollah’s Margin is Tightening - The Lebanese government’s efforts to secure a monopoly over weapons are advancing, but can it ignore Iran?" https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2025/08/hezbollahs-margin-is-tightening?lang=en The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:12 Diplomacy with Iran 4:56 What Iran wants 7:53 What the Iranians and Americans are discussing 8:47 The Lebanese Forces' rejection to Larijani's visit 11:57 Lebanese state as interlocutor 13:15 Deadline for disarmament 14:34 Comparisons to earlier attempts at militia disarmament 15:37 Israeli entry into the fight 17:10 Betting on time 20:48 US goals vis-a-vis dialogue with Iran 21:52 A normal relationship with Iran 25:05 Letter to Rouhani