U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif have expressed a mutual desire to accelerate negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. The same differences that have paralyzed progress for over a decade, however, continue to divide Iran and the P5+1 parties. In this podcast, Paul Haenle and Carnegie’s Ariel Levite explored the remaining challenges preventing a potential deal and new strategic considerations that could change the dynamics of ongoing talks.

Levite expressed uncertainty that gaps between these actors can be bridged. He noted that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei likely views the broader openness that a deal could usher in as a threat to his power and the survival of his regime. Powerful U.S. interest groups also favor the status quo. Despite these obstacles, Levite maintained that none of the parties want discussions to collapse completely.

Ariel (Eli) Levite

Ariel Levite is a nonresident senior associate in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment. Prior to joining Carnegie, Levite was the principal deputy director general for policy at the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission from 2002 to 2007.

Paul Haenle

Paul Haenle is the director of the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center for Global Policy. Prior to joining Carnegie, he served from June 2007 to June 2009 as the director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolian Affairs on the National Security Council staffs of former president George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.