The memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran is currently the best available option for peace despite its vulnerabilities.

“I believe that doing a deal and having peace is far better than the alternative. And so I want the peace process to work. Of course I do. I don't want to see us going back into war. Um I think however as a reporter it is important to point out the representations that were made initially versus the ”

A negotiated agreement similar to the JCPOA is the likely outcome of current diplomatic efforts.

“I think really Patrick the bottom line is at the end of this we're going to end up with something that looks very much like the JCPOA and we're just going to say up we won it's all over we have this agreement pieces at hand.”

A movement toward an offramp from the current war is occurring, which could lead to a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities.

“I think the number one thing is offramp. This administration is looking for an offramp from the current status of the war and that means this could lead to a process and that could lead to a cease fire or cessation of hostilities and that would be good for the markets I would think.”

Iran is potentially signaling a desire to engage in substantive talks by allowing limited vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

“there are no indications that someone is talking, and it does look like there was some element of showing they were talking to the right people with the administration by allowing one vessel through the strait of hormuz yesterday.”

She contends that the current aggressive policy toward Iran has created an intractable, negative situation for the United States.

“But the bottom line at this point is Trump doesn't have a way out and the pressure is building. And what I mean by not having a way out is this. Right now Iran essentially is holding the upper hand or as Trump would say the cards.”

The U.S. is worse off now than before the conflict and the original Iran nuclear deal, and Trump has surrendered his leverage in the current negotiations.

“We are worse off than we were before the war started and we are worse off than we were when there was the JCPOA in place.”

The current US policy toward Iran is incoherent because it lacks clear objectives, relies on empty threats, and risks global economic instability.

“it's just a the policy is incoherent because nobody knows what the objective is or why we had to do this.”

Donald Trump's aggressive foreign policy and ground invasion threats are backfiring, making the situation in the Middle East worse.

“I think we're now seeing reports that the Pentagon thinks that if we just have one more fatal blow against the Iranians, they will surrender. They will surrender and we will win this thing. But we've seen that that's not the case. That's not how you get rid of regimes.”

The United States should aim to collapse the current Iranian regime because it is actively waging war against America and killing its citizens.

“I however think our objective should be unequivocally collapsing this regime. And and in my view the decision to launch this attack was the most consequential decision President Trump has made in in his second term.”

John Bolton claims that regime change is the only viable solution for the United States to permanently neutralize the threat posed by the Iranian government.

“I don't think anything is going to change the behavior of the regime of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The only solution is regime change.”