Description:
Russia is now stepping directly into the Iran standoff, and the signals coming out of Moscow are anything but routine. In this episode we break down Putin's 85 minute call and three hour meeting with the envoy of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the split inside the Trump White House between JD Vance, Scott Bessent and the neocon hardliners, and the possible plan to strike Iran's infrastructure and seize Kharg and Qeshm islands. With a two day confidence building proposal on the table and a closing window before January, will Trump choose diplomacy or escalation?
Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:58 Neocons in the ascendant and Trump's position
00:02:15 JD Vance breaks ranks on Iran
00:03:40 Scott Bessent and the blockade faction
00:04:52 The shadow of Russia falls over the conflict
00:05:51 Putin's unusual call and three hour Moscow meeting
00:09:18 What Russia and Iran discussed
00:11:01 Trump's 60 Minutes interview, can it be trusted?
00:14:35 The plan: infrastructure strikes and seizing Kharg and Qeshm
00:19:42 The two day confidence building proposal