In this episode of The Middle East Breakdown, Dan Feferman and Hayvi Bouzo are joined by Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, executive director and senior vice president at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The conversation takes a wide angle look at how Washington is weighing its options on Iran, and how those decisions connect to Gaza’s next phase and the shifting balance of power across the region.

The discussion examines the collapse of planned US Iran talks, what it signals about Trump’s red lines, and the range of scenarios on the table, from coercive diplomacy and regime alteration to military degradation and outright regime change. Schanzer also assesses the opposition’s leadership vacuum, the role of the exiled crown prince, and the risk of unintended consequences as pressure on Tehran rises.

The panel then turns to Gaza and the “Board of Peace,” arguing that Hamas cannot be allowed to hold reconstruction hostage, and exploring whether a phased model could emerge where non Hamas areas move forward while Hamas controlled zones stagnate until disarmament. The episode closes with a deeper dive into the Turkey Qatar axis, why Washington continues to work with both despite their Islamist agendas, and how Saudi UAE friction is reshaping Gulf competition, normalization prospects, and regional alignments.

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