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--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Welcome to Today Explained. I'm Sean Rameswaram.
--:-- Noel King: And I'm Noel King.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Today, we're talking about Iran and the US. Iran kicked off the day by blowing up a very expensive US surveillance drone. Vox's Alex Ward is here to explain why tensions keep getting more tense.
--:-- Alex Ward: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, let's start with the basics. What happened today?
--:-- Alex Ward: Iran shot down a US drone, a surveillance drone, while it was flying above the Strait of Hormuz.
--:-- Noel King: And this is a big deal because...?
--:-- Alex Ward: This is a big deal because it's the first real directed attack against an American asset. And it's a very expensive asset, a $130 million drone.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what's the context here? Why are tensions so high between the US and Iran right now?
--:-- Alex Ward: Well, we've been escalating for a while. The US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, and since then, tensions have been rising. Iran has been enriching uranium, and the US has been imposing sanctions.
--:-- Noel King: And what's the US position on this? Does the US want to go to war with Iran?
--:-- Alex Ward: Well, the US says it doesn't want to go to war with Iran, but it's also taking steps that suggest it's preparing for war. The US has sent more troops to the region, and it's been making statements that suggest it's willing to use military force.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And who's driving this policy? Is it the President, or is it someone else?
--:-- Alex Ward: Well, it's a combination of the President and his advisors. Mike Pompeo and John Bolton are two of the key figures here. They're both very hawkish on Iran, and they've been pushing for a more aggressive approach.
--:-- Noel King: And what's the goal here? Is the US trying to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran, or is it just trying to impose its will?
--:-- Alex Ward: That's the million-dollar question. The US messaging on this is all over the place. Trump says he wants to negotiate a new deal, but Pompeo says that if Iran attacks American interests, then a military response is warranted.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what's the impact of this on the region? How bad would a war with Iran be?
--:-- Alex Ward: It would be catastrophic. It would be bloody, messy, and costly. And it could even ignite World War III.
--:-- Noel King: Wow, that's a pretty dire prediction. Is there any way to avoid this?
--:-- Alex Ward: I don't think so. The US and Iran are on a collision course, and it's hard to see how we get out of this without a major conflict.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks, Alex, for explaining this complex situation to us.
--:-- Alex Ward: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Noel King: And that's it for today's show. Thanks for listening.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: If you want to learn more about this story, check out our episode on the Iran nuclear deal.
--:-- Noel King: And if you want to support our show, you can subscribe to our podcast or donate to our Patreon.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks for listening to Today Explained.
--:-- Noel King: And we'll see you tomorrow.
--:-- [Theme music starts playing]
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: I'm Sean Rameswaram.
--:-- Noel King: And I'm Noel King.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Today's episode was produced by Noel King and me, Sean Rameswaram.
--:-- Noel King: And edited by me, Noel King.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: If you want to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email address].
--:-- Noel King: Or follow us on social media.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks for listening to Today Explained.
--:-- Noel King: And we'll see you tomorrow.
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