This is John Batcher, conversation with colleague Ben and Ben Telabu, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy,

just back from world traveling to comment on the Vienna meeting momentarily, September 9th of the IEA to confront the many issues with regard

the Islamic Republic of Iran, the nuclear weapons program, the missile program, the threats

to the neighborhood, the attacks on Israel, the threat to

attack Israel.

What is to be done?

The Europeans will be in attendance as well and the concern for Benham is deterrence.

Will the US and its allies use deterrence to stop Iran's provocations and predations? That is the question. Here's Benham to describe

what he expects from the meeting. More of this later tonight. This is in my view

with respect more of a cocktail and again this follows from my last comment about

No premature victory lapse here. It would be a mistake to think unfortunately that it was our increased military posture or

Israel's military successes that deter the regime because most unfortunately

what the regime has been banking on obviously they know they're outgunned

against the Israelis outgunned against the Israelis, outgunned against the Americans.

But what the regime has been banking on is always the prospect of threatening a wider war to foster actually greater American intervention and greater American

intervention because America's goal in the region is fundamentally

contradictory right now. It's de-escalation on one hand and deterrence on the

other.

But I think unfortunately the regime knows enough about the Biden administration

and has learned enough about this administration,

knowing that when push comes to shove,

the administration will always preference de-escalation over deterrence.

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