Evening is an authority in washington we should be in for a tightly and interesting discussion. Petraeus United States and iran. That is a Nonprofit Organization to facilitate purchase a patient as part of civic life and was telling me in the Washington Area this is the Third Largest area of the arabian americans. Although board there he left with his parents and grew up in sweden and arrived as an adult and iran has been a focus of his studies his ph. D. Thesis dealt with the arabia and israeli relations and his first book published day decade ago of a Treacherous Alliance them the second book examine those relations during the Obama Administration but now his latest work losing an enemy is the third part of a trilogy. Given the Nuclear Agreement but now who knows to see where that is going with those relations but again delving into the u. S. Soredium relationship how that was negotiated. So to have exceptional access consulted in briefed and also maintained frequent contact drawing on the other primary sources with these historic negotiations but this book is important not only is a detailed history and why diplomacy succeeded this time. And how that might serve as a model your national conflict. Enjoyed we to welcome our author. [applause] a tremendous pleasure to be backed this is my third book the previous books dealt with that other between the United States and iran but the previous books show how those diplomatic opportunities have systematically rejected cliche that situation and towards war. With a triumphant of diplomacy that shows what could be achieved so that leads to a situation but then Tv Reality Show that were back to where we were before but if we and the stand what went right into and that could be reversed and that may still exist and was advising the Obama Administration so they could better understand their perspective. To receive a of a briefing and then end up having a private to our conversation with the Prime Minister a couple later. So gave me the opportunity to the understand the motives and how they were hoping bass strategy could work out. And gave me an opportunity that i could tell this achievement actually came about. How this International Crisis of the brink of war was actually result without a single fire being shot. It is important to recognize that the consequences range and it was about the balance of power but so many of these problems are remaining in the least. So to go back in time april april 2012 of a small city in a european country with officials and former officials the Iranian Ambassador is. Including several u. S. Generals. And israelis at the time when they didnt even recognize their existence but it was david more unique from what was being said. This is never about the enrichment. The room was completely silent but for two decades the program constituted the existential threat. That no solution in could be found with that o in richmond objective. And actually did not have fitted the to do with israel beyond. And then to see a sweeping attitude change that iran was questioning the legitimacy that the United States would strike a deal with iran that it midways that would leave israel abandoned beyond hostility of its own. Israel could not allow the betting states without coming to terms and if they ever going to go with this direction israel could not accept this tuesday and in though way at the moment of tremendous honesty and to better understand why theyre making this argument we have to go back another two decades. The soviet union had collapsed and defeated in the persian gulf war this was a new geopolitical situation and that the global level rissole super power of the World Without previous balance of power had changed but it isnt quite clear. With iraq defeated now emerging as to of the most powerful centers of the region. Behindthescenes collaborating to enjoy that secret security relationship. But with these to do threats gone one of those most powerful states as potential threats and rifles. Because they already enjoy their relationship or the change of the geopolitical configuration they argue in order to make peace with the palestinians the United States needed to contain and isolate iran because it was a new threat to the rigid and israelis. So they obliged of the fuel containment. And essentially a new order based on the centrality of israel. So for the iranians so with the persian gulf war they were hoping and they would be rewarded coming out of the cold and then to double down and isolation to spread extremism and then the weakest link of the strategy to put the Peace Process if it was sabotaged the rest of the strategy would fall apart. So iran would make it as costly as possible for the United States to pursue that policy despite everything they did and by george w. Bush invading iraq to change that country and others in the region to establish order on new american regimes in the region. The invasion of fire rack did not build the new order. United states week itself to the point it no longer have the capacity with the new equilibrium more balance of power. So much of the fighting taking place right now is driven by the fact we have so many vacuums in the region and those that are vying for influence as much as defensively that no one that power to be tilted against them. This was a collapse. To have maximum ability and then to defeat is a dog. Into the main at rivals that the tide. And uphold that policy as long as United States continues of those negotiations they could not lock in this new geopolitical circumstance. And then to enable that negotiation and then to come to terms. But then to see that recognition. So ironically they use those same instruments to achieve their objectives which was the Iranian Nuclear program. This was used to make unrealistic demands that the enrichment had to be completely ended that no compromise could be reached at all. What was defined as that existential threat toward taking military action and the balance of power that would follow is one favorable. They added different calculation with the same instrument precisely because it failed in iraq and so tired of warfare they could come to the table to find a common ground. So how to prevent iran from getting the Nuclear Weapon capability without allowing the israelis to take military action and then to define the new balance of power and then to pursue a sanctions it was an utter failure. So by the time they left office 1200500 of low enriched uranium enough to build a Nuclear Weapon. Then senator barack obama would reinstate diplomacy but to negotiate with iran was that platform but once he became president he realized quickly how difficult this could be. Mainly because of problems but then quickly and to get in a situation that was stuck with those very same instruments sanctions and sabotage and cyberwarfare. Precisely because he enjoyed International Legitimacy obama succeeded with the most striking hard hitting sanctions even the Iranian Central Bank with access to the International Financial system. Then they exported from the European Union at the time for pro. And then to shot 25 percent. But how long could it truly sustained . But they never thought to go along with sanctions in this manner. And without a response. And with bushs refusal to double down to build more centrifuge. So what came out of this but they wed because the benefits to change make their realized it is too painful to go forward and the recalculation was i spent a a program as much as possible the policy would be too costly for United States with a strategy to break the mentality to show that pressure doesnt work. And then to show a pressure would produce the end result was the United States come closer and closer to collapse in the economy. And then to have a Nuclear Weapon. The american side was so worried that they would take their freedom of launching a surprise attack. That pentagon officials insisted the cycle has to be included. Because they would need a specific window. As the official negotiations were reading president obama to read the to the rand Supreme Leader. And then to assess that are they willing to yield with the sanctions . The chairman of a foreign setting Relations Committee john kerry an opportunity existed so senator kerry played an instrumental role to be wrongfully jailed and they have proven their ability it actually directly access the Supreme Leader. So for the first time a small delegation travel to those at the time that were midlevel one was the Deputy Foreign minister and he never entered the room but instead conducted negotiations but by a all accounts it was bad. And had day succeeded to see how close that they were there not to capitulate to see how close the United States was so for a the full day of how the u. S. Could come to terms and then even to discuss the issue. And then to have those u. S. Elections but then by january 2013 in a sense of urgency then secretary of defense panetta stated publicly the breakout time atonements making a decision to build the bomb but one year later the tonnage from between eight and 12 weeks. And then to amass more geranium. Uranium. But if nothing changed would soon be in a situation to except or acquiesce or go to war. But time was on their side. But in a much more senior delegation and then directly engaged in the United States. In the p5 1 meeting because they wrap those negotiations they insisted as the other delegations entered the room and then their roots become in the was the competition different speeches in leave the room entirely. That there are no chitchats on the sidelines or no coffee breaks. Taking walks together but the most important thing was that this time around the u. S. Negotiators for armed with the opportunity than very careful terms that United States could except significant restrictions the this is what they had waited for. It was a problem because of the mistrust and then promise they would be willing to except that. And to have absolutely no authority because if they put this in and write glading riding that would be significant with the p5 1. That was creating a problem getting much closer to each other. And that trust gap between the two sides. But instead of the United States sending a letter and then except in richmond. And then the Supreme Leader iran. And then travel to iraq in between his chemotherapy and then not show with a letter the context or the contents of the letter. And then no longer rejecting but insulting but precisely this is what caused the of break through to happen and now you hear about sectarian strife with actually an arab country then after this was settled because my douala this happened when ahmadinejad was still president three months later prix in a completely Different Team with many of the americans even though he had no idea that issue had been resolved by November November 2013 the deal is struck. This was so critical for the United States because it refers to the dynamics prime United States keeping the previous sanctions more or less even neutralized after excruciating negotiations they finally had a deal that show diplomacy had prevailed that war with iran was prevented so drably these talks the biggest declared enemy of the negotiation was the Prime Minister and he did quite a lot because president obama had a habit to spy on foreign leaders and friends once that was revealed he stopped. But he did not stop trying. Because the israelis are still doing things to arm the negotiation and that they were leaking information about the negotiations to undermine the Nuclear Talks because by making the Iranian Nuclear issue he essentially eliminated the status quo option kicking the can down the road option forcing United States to take action instead tip his surprise trying to figure out how to take diplomatic action chances are there would not have taken this action but contain the issue and then forcing obama to choose between war and peace. If he thought about this a little bit harder something that he could have done. To say this is the worst deal ever of he needed to do was go to the microphone to say this is a fantastic deal. And it would have killed that opportunity. Nfl to shut off those hardliners. So for all the things they did in the plans that they had. So as you know, there was a better deal. But not in 2015. With a more realistic position but in 2003 to have that offer to the bush administration. And then to with the Nuclear Program and transparency with a whole set of other issues such as collaborating for girl but that swiss ambassador who cant deliver the proposal but then to call role at the white house he said he was intrigued to find that if it was authentic. That is the last weve heard of that proposal that there was an article in the Financial Times that said the u. S. Side of the administrations response was to the detriment to the swiss ambassador. In 2005 another opportunity the last offer was set to the europeans before ahmadinejad became president. They offered to cut their enrichment because they knew bush would reject anything. Somebody brought up that proposal. Who would jump on the proposal . But during the proposal in deciding how much they would keep but then he smiled and said 3,000 . We would settle for 1,000. Now was the result of this deal that they responded by building more center fears and have far more knowledge that is the alternative cost of pressure tactics and unrealistic objectives so i will said that is what this means with this deal could have gotten not just prevent war but paving the way for the regional dialogue sound of the ring the saudis said the iranians to figure out a way to create a new equilibrium to go to the negotiating table. But what happened when trump went with that all out isolation and then opens the door for more rivalry in the past decade. That he essentially existed and then the so welcomed by the saudis precisely because that would open the door for a potential path. And then it became quite clear it is isolated in the region and then if they said it wasnt that terribly indifferent either. What that interesting conversation wants to keep of west of the permanent status of fandom and then to negotiate. Clearly those to freer the enemy. As they intended it was not about enrichment. Thank you so much. [applause] i am afraid to take your questions. Please use the microphone. I have requested about 2013 getting concerned about iranian enrichment so with that desire to keep the talks on track to have an impact not to enforce the red line in syria . And that has been presented as an opening with iran and there were starting to show promise that obama himself had put up fearing it would impact and i found no evidence that is the reason why. But on the other hand, with this set strategy of obama to the middle east. When it has a strategic amount the first year to make the audit the conclusion was there over committed in the middle east and over committed in asia the worse thing that could happen was to be drug into another endless war in the United States. With the next decade or two because ultimately they will have to worry about this potential risk to challenge that global position there is no country in the middle east to have that capacity and one that does have that capacity not getting dragged into another war in syria and what that actual objectives and strategy would be. And why he did in force to read live but again no evidence that was the reason. Can you share with us some of your but its . Thoughts . With tomas that relationship has gone up and down quite a lot and then to a very bad relations and to meet with the foreign minister but but he is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood worthy opposition but that has never ben the relationship with hezbollah. And then goes back several decades with a complete the different strategic nature. That they would completely cut off to be far more instrumental here is the one important thing to understand. The objective of any final negotiations in the middle east they constantly try to find the non state actors in and of itself what you see right now without political environment that is greater threat than anything. Theyre just doing a better than everyone else. So they find the group and they find the and then they turn against the saudis. They had their relationships with those strategic relationships space should be able to use this. The demos went to war with each other at the taliban was aborted with the competition from iran. And it in 2001 they had defined as one of the main threats. But there are some science that is changing but i suspect that they put a tremendous amount of pressure on the Iraqi Government to have an agreement with United States. And below those forces to be in iraq. Because they do not want to see any troops there the borders. And as a result the and its states is there. But that is precisely to of that teeseven relationship because you love the United States totally the idea of the regime change could nazi any troops of the borders. From the rivalry between the United States. One of the things that was repeated leading up in to the successful deal was the idea the russians that was something the john kerry was saying but this seems like if anything to be more complicated as it is though whole nature of u. S. Russian relations so was russia back in 2016 . Does the relationship now to go forward with that iranian deal can you make comments if they are still important Going Forward . Was rushed a help in the past . Weld read here about russia if that was so helpful in the negotiation every thing i saw played a helpful role in the negotiation. But very frustrating to the iranians they did not shatter the p5 1. Between russia and the of other countries in fact, when the deal went to congress to vote for approval. They played a tremendous role but even then only the democrats had showed up at with france and britain and germany. Because at the end of the day we have to remember it is the international agreement. Butted in those meetings the Russian Ambassador by virtue the most embarrassing ambassador to set what you to take a look at these ambassadors remember where they are from. When you saw these four countries had just been the europeans but the fact that they were there that was something that was very surprising. Going forward donald trump will find out that is very different then running for office if he breaks it despite the fact there is now been six reports theyre doing with their supporters to do to live up to the agreement he will say they are not he will not end of having a fight with iraq but the entire. [inaudible conversations] plus 1p5 1 with some of the most severe longterm walking out of this agreement will have the immediate effect because of the crisis it will create. Not. I am curious why did gnomon take such the road and how they reacted . Windows that had of other problems i am not at liberty from discussing. And then either hope for fear. This was leading towards a war. En to have the capacity that nobody else could. And then to go a couple of decades. So in power as a large part of intervention. During the time of the shot was a rebellion in to be very dramatically different relationship than they have that history with of capacity to improve their ability to get them released from jail and they could help of this issue as well. Been given any meaningful compromise is. And nobody was closer. How did they react . Not particularly well. Why didnt we hear about it in the news . So for instance and then to use back doors and other things with those of official negotiations so the enemies of this deal so those negotiations are so fragile they could create problems. Some magic and waking up that there was a rapprochement with q the them president obama said he announced the negotiations. Because both cuba and iran were politicized to conduct those negotiations in the open. I would like to compliment you in an excellent presentation that has to do with your own personal experience if you have rolled and secondly to realize is the quality that comes with the enrichment capacity will be back ended of the process. And then that behavior will change in the country but with your personal experience and your comments may evil into an improved process that may make more confidence that they will change behavior with that enrichment process. So on the second part the entire crooks of the issue with the fallon suspicions or does something need to be done seeking been the confidence of the International Community then he will have the same if they were to permanently of those the only way is to ensure at the end if they do everything right they should be no different than any other states. It was the tissue abided by the rules so that the intent is to make sure it is as long as possible but only wanted the deal to last five years some aspects lasted eight years or 15 years granted they dont do anything then they will ratify the additional. Is is your calculation because then they get 15 years and make sure they know far more about the program because of the inspection. But without a doubt if there was this interaction slowly ensure the changes of behavior understandably asking of any behavior in the region. Youre still supporting those that we do not disagree with. After two years of this deal what in the region has changed . The saudi arabias had a less visible note when it came to opposition. They were making it clear but unlike the israelis they were not like this. They were honest and direct. How can you make a deal with the government of iran . In a naked way, they dont want to see any deal what so ever. The Saudi Arabian against the deal is now louder. In november, 2014, there was a final negotiation they had a deadline. They had not extended it and not they couldnt. The iranian narrative is they claim close to a deal. The foreign minister said he was discussing a press release with the German Foreign minister. He took a break and went to the airport and met in the private airplane of the foreign minister and he came back and they said it was a complete change and he was back down on what he had said earlier on. The american narrative is different. As one of the u. S. Negotiator said they looked at a meeting and it was two plus two and they made five. They are convinced what happened was because the Saudi Arabians intervenes. I would just like to ask you to comment further on the internal reprecussions within iran if trump decides to if trump walks away from the agreement. One thing i think it is important to understand is if the u. S. Walks out of this deal is what this would do for any future opportunities to be able to get any negotiations going between the United States and europe. I think we have to be careful because you cant trust the u. S. He said. Well, it would be really sad if trump does anything that would give the Supreme Leader the vindication of saying he was right. Part of the reason beyond and the immediate effects of the dole collapsing and potentially war with iran and Nuclear Weapons back on the table is the next time there is a need to dissolve something diplomatically those within the iran Foreign Policy elite how will they make the argument we should go back to the negotiating table because we can strike a deal and the u. S. Would live. Just like we had have difficulty if iran cheated and broke away from the deal. Can you imagine how difficult it would be for the next obama to make the argument we have to pursue negotiations instead of pursuing the path of george bush . This is what is at stake. It is about the future of being able to resolvethis. Let me Say Something about internal politics in iran. It is important. I think there have been changes internly in iran. We have seen small ones but they havent been reported in the United States. We may be forgiven for having missed them. You heard there were elections in iran again. These are not free and fair. But far more competitive than any election in the middle east. Certainly more competitive than the nonexisting elections in saudi arabia. In the city council level, where the elections are more theater than the president ial level, the reformist swept almost everything. In all major cities, they took all the seats. In a very conservative city, a woman ran for the city council and the city council is pretty important in iran on the laplatn platform of opposing the patriarchy and her slogan was elect more women and she won. The number of women who won in the last elections i believe tripled or quadrupled. These are internal changes that will speed up if there is peace with iran and the u. S. As a whole. And it will be undermined if we have more tension. If we want to see that type of a change in the contact and Foreign Policy we will ultimately have to come because iran is changing internally and rest assured threats of war, sanctions and regime changes are not helping the people drive iran in a democratic direction. Thank you so much. [applause] please fold up your chairs. [inaudible conversations] booktv visited capitol hill to ask members of congress are they reading this summer let me back in the question and say i highly encourage people to read. Whether they are young or old. It expands your horizon. You learn, Gain Knowledge and it inspires you in lots of ways. You dont have to go on a long trip to feel like you have been there if you look at the place in a book and look at the photographs. These are autographs i have collected. You have Winston Churchill and it happens the first autobiography i ever read was a book called my early life and that got me into autobiographies and i love churchills way of writing. I try to immolate him without much great success. You have lincolns autograph here. This is a copy of a photo that is the only copy of lincoln in congress in a photograph. He is one of my favorite president s and i have read every biography about him. On the bottom is an autograph of James Madison and that is there to reminds us we are in congress to guard, protect, and enforce the constitution. And madison is not as well known as some president s but one of the early dedicated individuals who built our country and start the foundation of our government and is really a great president in lots of ways. To get to the answer of your question what i have read recently. Just yesterday, i finished a book called the gate keepers and it is a book about the chief of staffs of president s. It is this book here. Interestingly enough and i hope you wont take it personally i think he might have benefited a little bit by having his it could have been slightly better if he had a chief of staff who said maybe better not to put in these half dozen paragraphs. Still a great book but maybe half a dozen paragraphs he might have thought about taken out. It was still worth reading. I am doing book notes on this. That brings up another thing. My staff is nice enough to type up, whenever i read a book, they type up everything i underlined. This is an example of book notes from this is from a book called the agenda mover. It was a book i read before the gatekeepers. This was just wonderful. I would recommend this to any member of congress. The subtitle is when your good idea is not enough. It is not enough to come up with a good idea. You have to find a way to build coalitions and find a way to put it into practice or effect or enact it. If anyone wants book notes, i will be happy to share my Readers Digest version on that. There was one on climate. One on leadership. And i will show you these right here. This was a book, rare leadership, it was a rare book on leadership. There was a little bit of a spiritual dimension to this. And about increasing trust and joy and engagement in the people you lead. It wasnt a hog boiled kind of leadership. It was a leadership that was more emotional, intuitive, and more uplifting than some other books on leadership. This is a book by roger who is somebody who testified before the Science Committee that i chair called the climate fix. It is not he is not a climate denire nor am i. But this is a down the middle of the road book on Climate Change making the point i happen to agree with that better than government mandates and high taxes why dont we let Tech Knowledge and innovation reduce our c carbon emissions. Technology solved communication problems, health care and transportation problems and why shouldnt it solve our energy as well . That is why i am trying to put more money into research and development for Climate Change. This is the next book i hope to read. It is called do i make myself clear despite what some people are saying in the office this was not given to me by my wife but it made to learn to write better. I am trying to improve my writing and never stop editing. But there is just a wealth of wonderful books out there and i am frustrated because i cant Read Everything i would like to read. I try to read a book every week or two. I didnt learn to love to read until college. But i found it very helpful. You get good ideas, it helps to inspire you, it helps you be a better person in a lot of ways. My caveat is i think you can read too much and i think i am getting to that point where i am loving what i read and pick subjects i want to read about mostly nonfiction and sometimes on leadership but i think it is just as important to stop and think as it is to read. You can think about what you read, life, how to do your job better, how to help more people. I would say it is important not just to try to read to read but to freed a purpose and i think it is important after you read to take some time to think about what you just read or as i say life in general and maybe that will change your Reading Habits and you will think about reading on a different subject as a result of just thinking. I would say i am a proponent today for reading but also reading and thinking. That combination is a potent one. How does taking notes while you read really display that and show how you think and read . I like to underline points that are important in a book i am reading for a couple reasons. If i underline them i remember them better and read them twice or three times because i read them once and go back and underline a passage i hilike or found salient. And who knows the poor intern who gets to type up my book notes. I hope they are learning something. They say they are. I give those book notes to my family members, senior staff on the committee and in the personal office as well. I am not convinced they read all my book notes but i think they read some of the book notes and found them helpful. That is what i do. I underline or take in the margin passages i think are important. Book wants to know what you are reading. Send us your Summer Reading list via twitter at booktv or instagram at book underscore tv. Or post it to our Facebook Page facebook. Com booktv. Booktv on cspan2. Television for sear yz serious readers. Shelby steele, your book, shame. I couldnt find that single thing