Today on the show, Fareed is joined live by an expert panel to discuss the events unfolding in the Middle East. Randa Slim, conflict resolution director at the Middle East Institute, and Richard Haass, president emeritus at the Council on Foreign Relations, speak about the escalation in the region. They discuss Israel’s war in Lebanon as well as its potentia ... Show More
Mar 15
Exclusive Interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; What’s Next on the War in Iran
Today on the program, Fareed’s exclusive interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his country’s important, albeit unlikely, role in the Iran War: as Iranian-designed drones are fired across the Middle East - the very same drones used by Russia against Ukraine for ... Show More
43m 20s
Mar 8
War with Iran: Reactions from Biden’s National Security Adviser; Will the Kurds Be Pulled into the Fighting?
Today on the show, the US and Israel are now in week two of warring with Iran and Fareed speaks with Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s former National Security Adviser, about how fighting is likely to proceed, the larger regional implications, and how the war might embolden Russia ... Show More
42m 31s
Jun 2025
A Twelve-Day War, A New Middle East?
This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard speaks with Crisis Group experts Ali Vaez, Yasmine Farouk, Mairav Zonszein, Max Rodenbeck and Michael Hanna about the uneasy truce between Israel and Iran after twelve days of war and what it means for the region.In this episode of Hold Your ... Show More
47m 29s
Apr 2025
Nuclear diplomacy: Trump, Iran and a potential new deal
After years of stalled diplomacy, the US and Iran are back in high-level talks. Surprise meetings have taken place in Oman and Rome, with more expected soon. Could this be President Donald Trump’s long-awaited foreign policy win? Or will competing agendas, regional tensions and i ... Show More
32m 25s
Sep 2024
Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Intensifies
The Middle East is on edge as Israel prepares for a possible ground operation in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the US and France, among others, are working feverishly on a ceasefire plan between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected ... Show More
59m 9s
Dec 2024
Live from the Doha Forum: The Middle East after Assad
<p>Given the turbulence across Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran, conversations at this year’s Doha Forum highlighted a Middle East region, and a world order, in flux. Now the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and the upcoming Donald Trump administration will shape American ... Show More
33m 16s
<p class="" data-start="128" data-end="218"><em><strong data-start= "128" data-end="218">Note:</strong> We're excited to announce that 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' is moving to its own channel! Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts to c ... Show More