Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

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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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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

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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

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

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

This is a sneak peek from today’s members-only Inside Call Me Back, Part 2 of our 3-part series on Inside Mossad’s Shadow War with Iran with Ronen Bergman.

Dan and Ronen pick up where Part 1 left off, diving into the growing tension between Israel and the United States over whether—and when—to strike Iran’s nuclear program. From dramatic exchanges with Presidents Bush and Obama to deep divisions inside Israel’s own security establishment, this episode explores the early fault lines that would shape one of the most consequential strategic debates in recent history.

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

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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 Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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What does freedom mean when pain is still present?

As Passover approaches, Dan Senor speaks with Rachel Goldberg-Polin about how this year’s Seder lands differently. In a moment shaped by war, loss, and uneasy relief, they explore how the rituals of Passover hold both joy and sorrow—and why that tension is the point.

From the Exodus story to the symbols on the Seder table, Rachel reflects on memory, meaning, gratitude, and the challenge of holding both relief and restraint. Less about retelling the past, this conversation asks what it means to be free right now.

In this episode:

02:24 – Why This Passover Feels Different

08:09 – Setting the Table: From Slavery to Nationhood

12:54 – What Actually Happens at the Seder

16:15 – The Power of Questions (and Why Answers Matter Less)

27:39 – Bitterness, Memory, and Eating Our Pain

37:06 – Relief vs. Glee: A Moral Distinction

39:06 – Dayenu and the Discipline of Gratitude

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

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.

Purchase tickets to see Dan in conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin at the Streicker Center on April 20.

More Ark Media:

Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings.

Explore Israel Votes

Listen to For Heaven's Sake

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Watch Call me Back on YouTube

Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal

Instagram | Ark Media | Dan

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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