US and Iran: Deal or Attack?

The United States and Iran are caught in a dangerous mix of military threats and unclear diplomacy, says Barbara Slavin, a Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center. Speaking with François Picard, Slavin pointed to indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Qatar. She said these contacts were too limited and too fragile to produce any real breakthrough. Slavin called the situation "kabuki diplomacy" — a term for political theater. Both sides half engage, she said, while avoiding any appearance of compromise.