Michael Barbaro

Markets are gyrating.

I mean, does Iran think that suddenly they're going to get one of those proposals removed, that sanctions are going to be taken away faster?

I mean, like, just logistically, what are they going to gain that would compensate for the losses that they're going to be taking every single day to their infrastructure, to their military, to their people?

I suppose since you mentioned nuclear enrichment and nuclear weapons, we should probably acknowledge the point that this entire war so far has no doubt increased the incentive for Iran to seek out a nuclear weapon.

It's not exactly a strategic secret that when you have a nuclear weapon, you're a lot less likely to be attacked by the U.S.

and Israel than when you don't.

David, I want to end just by asking you to reflect on something that you know very intimately.

which is that the U.S.

and Iran did engage in very serious and successful negotiations back in 2015.

And you got a really up-close view of those talks.

I remember reading your coverage of that.

You were there during the negotiations as they reached their apex, and this deal was signed, a historic deal between these mortal foes.

So we know these two countries are capable of serious, high-level, history-making negotiations.

diplomacy if they want to.

Right, because that diplomacy was intended to ensure we never had a war like this.

And he tore it up and now we do.

Right.

So as infinitely complicated and delicate as the 2015 negotiations that you covered were, what lies ahead between Iran and the U.S.

will be even more so.

Oh, David, thank you very much.