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Can Diplomacy Prevail After Recent Escalations Between Iran and Israel?
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By Amelia Shepherd | WASHINGTON – 2025/06/28 21:25:29
A fragile ceasefire between israel and Iran, declared on Monday, seems to be holding.The declaration followed President Donald Trump‘s decision to involve the U.S. in the conflict and authorize strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites using 30,000-pound bunker busters.
The initial Israeli strike on Iran occurred on June 13, shortly before Iran and the U.S. were scheduled to resume discussions in Oman regarding Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.
According to Hooman will then, an iranian American author and commentator, “You don’t have to be anti-war to understand that diplomacy in this case would’ve been better.” Majd, who has written extensively on Iran and covered the 2015 Iran deal for NBC News, shared his insights.
The Diminishing Prospects for Diplomacy
“You don’t have to be anti-war to understand that diplomacy in this case would’ve been better.”
On a recent episode of The Intercept Briefing, Majd joined host Akela Lacy to explore the remaining avenues for diplomacy after years of escalating tensions, including Israel’s assertive military stance and President Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement.
The Joint Comprehensive plan of Action, or JCPOA, was designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Majd explained that the agreement aimed to increase transparency through enhanced access and inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities, while also reintegrating iran into the global economy. He quoted “Obama recognized was, ‘Look, if you guys make this deal with us, your incentive to not build a bomb is very clear. … Inflation will go down. Your people will be happier. The economy won’t be suffering the way it is indeed.sanctions will be lifted. You’ll make money from oil sales. We’ll have international companies coming and investing in Iran.”
In 2018, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA. More recently, he authorized military strikes, further eroding trust. “The problem here is that with the Trump governance having once withdrawn from the nuclear deal that was working, and having now agreed to Israel attacking Iran, and then attacking Iran itself – there’s no trust in diplomacy anymore on the Iranian side, and that’s understandable,” said Hooman.
Despite recent escalations, President Trump is expected to resume talks with Iran next week. However, questions remain about the durability of the ceasefire, especially given Israel’s history of broken truces and president Trump’s unpredictable behavior. Is a diplomatic resolution still viable?
Majd suggested that appealing to President Trump’s personal ambitions might be a path forward: “The only way it could be over, and this is unlikely, is that the U.S. under President Trump makes a deal that makes Mr. Trump,very happy,puts him along the path to his Nobel Peace Prize. And he, who’s the only one right now, can prevent Israel from attacking Iran again.”
The complete discussion from The Intercept Briefing is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the JCPOA?
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is an international agreement on the nuclear program of Iran reached in Vienna on 14 July 2015 between iran, the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security council-China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States-plus Germany), and the European Union Council on Foreign Relations, U.S. Department of State.
Why did the U.S. withdraw from the JCPOA?
In 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA under President Trump, who argued that the deal was flawed and did not sufficiently address Iran’s nuclear ambitions or its regional behavior. The U.S. reimposed sanctions on Iran as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign Council on foreign Relations, Brookings.
What are the main points of contention between Iran and Israel?
The main points of contention include Iran’s nuclear program, its support for proxy groups in the region, and ideological differences. Israel views Iran as a threat to its security and regional stability, while Iran opposes Israel’s existence and its policies towards Palestinians Middle East Institute, Jewish Virtual Library.
What is the current status of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel?
As of the latest reports,a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel appears to be holding. though, the situation remains tense, and there are concerns about potential future escalations, especially given past instances of broken truces and ongoing regional instability Reuters, Associated Press.
