Episode Notes:

On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price stated that “Nuclear deal talks with Iran in Vienna have shown modest progress and the United States hopes to build on that this week.” Yet widespread doubts remain, and experts have cautioned that the window for a renewed deal is rapidly drawing to a close.

Here to discuss this with us is Jeffrey Lewis. Jeffrey is director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program for the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Last December he also co-authored an article with Jim Lamson entitled, "Iranian President Raisi’s Renewed Emphasis on Space is Likely to Create New Tensions."

[ 01:02 ] Nuclear deal

[ 02:27 ] Few reasons for optimism

[ 03:16 ] Timeframe on Iranian nuclear progress

[ 04:25 ] What an interim agreement might look like

[ 05:31 ] What happens if talks collapse

[ 06:44 ] European Union's position

[ 07:45 ] Are military options realistic

[ 09:00 ] The most likely long-term outcome

[ 10:05 ] Reckless speculation on an Iranian nuclear test

[ 11:23 ] Iran's space program

[ 13:25 ] Missile capabilities

[ 16:48 ] Expanding missile range