Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

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According to a recent CBS / YouGov poll, 41% of Americans think that the war with Iran is going well, while 59% believe it is going badly. 

Can a war be won when the country fighting it doesn’t agree on whether it’s going well?

As the U.S. moves to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following failed negotiations, the debate is no longer just about battlefield gains, it’s about strategy, legitimacy, and what success really means. Dan Senor brings together former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz for a good-faith debate on where the war stands and where it should go next. From military progress to political will, and from alliance dynamics to endgame scenarios, this conversation unpacks the fault lines shaping the American debate.

In this episode:

Where do things stand after the failed U.S–Iran talks and the Hormuz blockade?

How Dan and Mark define whether the war is “going well”

What the U.S. and Israel have actually achieved militarily

Can the war be won if the Iranian regime remains intact

What economic, political, and human costs should Americans expect from this war?

How is the war affecting U.S. alliances and global standing?

Is the best path forward to escalate, contain, or shift strategy?

What happens if the war ends before achieving its core objectives?

This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838.

Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown.

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

This is a sneak peek from this week’s members-only Inside Call Me Back (Part 3 of our 4-part series on Inside Mossad’s Shadow War with Iran with Ronen Bergman).

In the aftermath of the JCPOA, Israel is forced to rethink its approach. With a military strike off the table, the strategy shifts. Mossad is tasked with finding a definitive “smoking gun” that would prove Iran’s military nuclear ambitions. That effort sets off a chain of events that leads to one of the most daring intelligence operations in modern history - the discovery and theft of Iran’s nuclear archive.

For the full series, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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Did Iran blink, or did the U.S. pull back too soon?

At the 11th hour, the U.S. and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire, stepping back from a major escalation. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is set to resume under the ceasefire—but the core issues driving the war remain unresolved.

Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Mark Dubowitz to break down what was actually agreed to, why Israel’s security establishment is uneasy, and whether this pause reflects strategic success—or a missed opportunity.

Is this a real off-ramp…or just a temporary pause before the next phase?

In this episode:

03:15 - A Ceasefire at the Brink: What Was Actually Agreed

05:33 - The Strait of Hormuz: Reopening Under What Terms?

06:57 - The Missing Pieces: Nuclear Program and Missiles Still Unresolved

08:18 - Israel’s Alarm: Why the Security Establishment Is Worried

14:30 - Did Iran Blink—or Gain Leverage?

15:42 - Trump’s Red Lines: What Must a Final Deal Include?

21:21 - Political Risks: Israel, the U.S., and the Blame Game

35:24 - Endgames: Diplomacy, Regime Pressure, or Renewed War

This episode was sponsored by the Jewish Communal Fund. Learn more about JCF’s donor advised funds at jcfny.org.

Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown.

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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Will Trump’s ultimatum trigger a decisive strike on Iran—or force a last-minute deal?

As the clock ticks toward a U.S. deadline, Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal to break down what comes next: a widening war, a strategic endgame, or something in between. They unpack competing military options, the role of Iran’s energy sector, the risks of escalation across the region, and whether regime change is a realistic outcome—or a dangerous illusion.

In this episode:

02:45 - Trump’s Ultimatum: What It Actually Means

05:45 - Extend, Escalate, or Strike: The U.S. Decision Tree

06:42 - Targeting Iran’s Energy Sector: Pressure vs. Shock

11:03 - Ground Forces on the Table? Risks and Realities

17:00 - No Deal, No Deterrence: Can This War End Cleanly?

18:00 - Iran’s Leverage: Hormuz and Regional Retaliation

21:30 - Endgames: Regime Change, Containment, or End

This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel.

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Link to Javad Zarif article on Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/how-iran-should-end-war-javad-zarif

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman

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Is the war heading towards a ground assault or a push for a deal? To explore the possibilities, Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Nadav Eyal and Fred Kagan, director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute.

In this episode:

02:24 - Two Tracks, One War: Escalation vs. Diplomacy

03:33 - Inside the Air Campaign: What’s Been Degraded—and What Hasn’t

08:33 - Diplomacy During War: Contradiction or Strategy?

10:57 - Iran’s Mindset: Why Tehran Thinks It’s Winning

15:54 - The Strait of Hormuz: Leverage, Illusion, or Real Control?

17:15 - What a U.S. Ground Operation Could Look Like

20:06 - Energy, Escalation, and Regional Spillover Risks

24:24 - Endgames: Deal, Deterrence, or Something Bigger?

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo