EPISODE · Jun 20, 2025 · 12 MIN
Episode 467: No Predictions, Just Pressure: U.S., Israel, and Iran
from Fault Lines
Today, Les, Martha, and Jeffery discuss the latest twist in the escalating standoff between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. As speculation swirls over whether the U.S. will join Israeli strikes on Iran’s underground nuclear facility at Fordow, the White House has announced President Trump will decide within two weeks whether to intervene. That decision could involve the use of powerful U.S. bunker-busting munitions—potentially the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator—against a fortified target only the U.S. is capable of hitting. While others jump to forecast outcomes, the Fault Lines crew focuses instead on what this moment actually means.What does the administration’s messaging signal about its strategic calculus—and red lines? How much pressure is being applied through public signaling, and how much of it is aimed at Tehran, Tel Aviv, or the American public? And with escalation already underway, how can we look to conflicts of the past to inform how we move forward? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson @marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here (and have a chance to see Bean the dog!): https://youtu.be/E4KyNG8l-cg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
Today, Les, Martha, and Jeffery discuss the latest twist in the escalating standoff between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. As speculation swirls over whether the U.S. will join Israeli strikes on Iran’s underground nuclear facility at Fordow, the White House has announced President Trump will decide within two weeks whether to intervene. That decision could involve the use of powerful U.S. bunker-busting munitions—potentially the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator—against a fortified target only the U.S. is capable of hitting. While others jump to forecast outcomes, the Fault Lines crew focuses instead on what this moment actually means.What does the administration’s messaging signal about its strategic calculus—and red lines? How much pressure is being applied through public signaling, and how much of it is aimed at Tehran, Tel Aviv, or the American public? And with escalation already underway, how can we look to conflicts of the past to inform how we move forward? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson @marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here (and have a chance to see Bean the dog!): https://youtu.be/E4KyNG8l-cg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episode 467: No Predictions, Just Pressure: U.S., Israel, and Iran
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