Bill Whalen interviews Hoover historian and Arabist [Cole Bunzel](https://hoover.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=de744b88c98cf7f8a268b1808&id=95390f3677&e=922d029bee) on the current state of affairs in the Middle East. Whelan begins with the question on many people’s minds this week: When and in what ways will the Iranian regime respond to recent Israeli strikes on key members of the so-called “axis of resistance”? Bunzel delves into the complexities of escalation dynamics, the self-interests of various actors within Iran’s axis, and the competing considerations pushing Israel and Iran toward diplomacy and a possible hostage deal on the one hand, and an all-out regional war on the other.
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Bill Whalen interviews Hoover historian and Arabist [Cole Bunzel](https://hoover.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=de744b88c98cf7f8a268b1808&id=95390f3677&e=922d029bee) on the current state of affairs in the Middle East. Whelan begins with the question on many people’s minds this week: When and in what ways will the Iranian regime respond to recent Israeli strikes on key members of the so-called “axis of resistance”? Bunzel delves into the complexities of escalation dynamics, the self-interests of various actors within Iran’s axis, and the competing considerations pushing Israel and Iran toward diplomacy and a possible hostage deal on the one hand, and an all-out regional war on the other.
Listen to the episode [here](https://hoover.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=de744b88c98cf7f8a268b1808&id=56b1791ed4&e=922d029bee).