As coordinated American and Israeli strikes on Iran continue, I wanted to sit down with Mark Dubowitz, the CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a leading expert on Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. sanctions policy. I asked Mark the most pressing questions to emerge since the major conflict began over the weekend: How does this serve American interests? Why did President Trump choose to strike now? And what comes next? Mark and I discussed what Iran actually wants—whether its nuclear program is meant as leverage, deterrence, or a weapon it intends to use—and what American policymakers are realistically trying to accomplish. Is the objective regime change, degrading Iran’s capabilities, long-term containment, or some uneasy equilibrium? We also examined how China’s growing ties with Tehran factor into Washington’s calculations. Mark unpacked Israel’s strategic thinking, the integration of U.S.–Israel intelligence and military operations, and the degree to which Israeli priorities shaped American decision-making. We discussed the complex effects across the region, including for Saudi Arabia and the future of the Abraham Accords. Finally, we consider possible futures: regime survival, internal reform, or regional normalization—and what a freer, more prosperous Iran might look like. 0:00- Intro 1:16-Why Is America at War With Iran Now? 6:10-Why This Moment? The Protests, Nuclear Program, and Failed Diplomacy 10:08- Iran’s Justification for Rejecting Nuclear Deals 13:08- Do We Have to Wait Until Iran Is Building a Bomb? 16:33- Iran as a Global Sponsor of Terror 21:05-The China Factor and the Wider Geopolitical Strategy 26:21-What Does Victory Look Like From Iran’s Point of View? 33:25-A New Model of War: Managing Enemies Instead of Defeating Them 39:42-Is America Fighting Israel’s War? 46:06-The Claim That Israel Controls U.S. Foreign Policy 50:38-Possible Outcomes: The CIA’s Three Scenarios for Iran 57:18- The Abraham Accords and Saudi Arabia After the War