Hannah Rosen

That they didn't obliterate the nuclear program.

Okay.

But does it add up to that a military action can't obliterate a nuclear program?

Yes.

Right.

So essentially these talks are necessary to achieve the goal.

If the goal is, you know, limited to the nuclear program, we haven't talked about other potential goals, then you need these diplomatic talks to get there.

Right.

And do you get the sense from sources in the Pentagon that they are putting faith in these negotiations to change anything?

So all we know is that right now they're preparing for every possible option.

I didn't know that, what you just said, that we don't have those potential troops because it seems as if we sometimes talk like we do, like that every option is possible that we could accomplish whatever we needed to in Iran.

So one option, of course, is that Trump is using the buildup as a threat to force Iran's hand at the negotiating table.

What do you think of that theory?

You know, a basic question.

Why the urgency?

OK, let's say there is a strike.

Is the U.S.

on their own in this scenario or do they have backing?

You and other national security reporters have essentially been on war watch for the past few weeks.

So what kind of signals are you going to be tracking