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Getting Iran out of Lebanon comes first. Not second or third.
An episode looking at the possibilities for state-to-state engagement, direct diplomacy and constructive dialogue between Lebanon and Iran.
With Michael Young - senior editor at Carnegie’s Middle East Center and editor of Diwan.
Articles mentioned in this episode include
"Israel can inflict even more damage if Hezbollah doesn't disarm"
https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/08/13/how-much-damage-can-israel-cause-if-hezbollah-doesnt-disarm/
"Hezbollah’s Margin is Tightening - The Lebanese government’s efforts to secure a monopoly over weapons are advancing, but can it ignore Iran?"
https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2025/08/hezbollahs-margin-is-tightening?lang=en
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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:12 Diplomacy with Iran
4:56 What Iran wants
7:53 What the Iranians and Americans are discussing
8:47 The Lebanese Forces' rejection to Larijani's visit
11:57 Lebanese state as interlocutor
13:15 Deadline for disarmament
14:34 Comparisons to earlier attempts at militia disarmament
15:37 Israeli entry into the fight
17:10 Betting on time
20:48 US goals vis-a-vis dialogue with Iran
21:52 A normal relationship with Iran
25:05 Letter to Rouhani
The Beirut Banyan
Getting Iran out of Lebanon comes first. Not second or third.
