06 20 25 iHeartRadio's Rory O'Neill discusses ongoing Israel and Iran air strikes

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is Colorado's Morning News, the Friday edition. President Trump
will decide whether or not to join Israel's air campaign
against Iran's nuclear facilities within the next two weeks as
he waits the outcome of diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington.
Is the administration's latest you turn over the question of
whether to commit American forces believe vital in destroying Iran's
nuclear sites. Joining us now in the KA Commas for

(00:21):
your health hotline, iHeart correspondent, It's Rory O'Neill. Rory, thanks
for joining me. Two weeks. It's the waiting to see.
I guess what the European leaders who are going to
be meeting I believe today in Switzerland to talk about
to see if they can come to some resolution with Iran.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Right there is a meeting happening in Geneva, and we've
learned that France, Germany and the UK are offering to
have complete negotiations with Iran. That's according to the French president,
who is trying to tamp things down. We've seen such
a destructive week this past week, and everyone's trying to
figure out what's the end game here and trying to

(00:58):
prevent the US from getting involved in really complicating the situation.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
What is Israel's reaction to the Trump two week pause.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well, they seem receptive to part of this, but they
want to make sure that the end goal is the same,
that Iran gives up its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Now,
Israel has also been calling for a regime change in
Iran as well, essentially saying, look, we can take out
these nuclear facilities, but with this same team leading Iran,

(01:27):
we're going to be back in this space all over again,
and the very existence of Israel will remain under threat. So,
you know, as much as they're still appreciative of the
support the US is getting, I suppose there's somewhat open
to the idea of some sort of a deal here,
but that redline still exists that Iran will have to
give up its nuclear ambitions.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
Do you know who President Trump is listening to at
this point, because it sounds like the Intel that that
you know, Director of National Intelligence Tulsey Gabber sharing that
the President was dismissive of saying he doesn't care what
she says. Sounds like Pete Hegseth. Maybe on the off
side of this as well, is Mark Rubio, maybe the
only voice he may be listening to the president is
on this issue at this point.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, there's a lot of division even within the MAGA movement,
as it were. The folks he sees on TV, the
Sean Hennedy's and the Tucker Carlson's have very different views
of how the America should be proceeding here, and he
realizes that there is even a split within the base.
The polls show that there are many MAGA Trump supporters
who don't want any more US involvement in foreign wars,

(02:28):
tired of the expense of these endless wars. But at
the same time, there are still those hawks out there,
like Senator Lindsay Graham, who are eager to bomb Iran
and to end this threat once and for all.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
And maybe that gets to that two week pause wherey
it seems like that is kind of a crutch, if
you will, for the president when he's trying to sort
things out or isn't sure how to go. But I
think part of it is what you point out, the
divide within the GOP, within Republicans. Do you think if
there was more clearance and clarity on that, the President
would have made a decision on this.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, I think if there was more unity among his
supporters specifically about how to proceed, I think it would
be easier for him. But look, we've heard this president
say many many times, either dealing with the war in
Ukraine or the situation in Gaza, or now what's happening
with Iran. The President is trying to have peace. He
does not like conflict like this. He's trying to broker

(03:19):
some sort of a deal so far hasn't found a
lot of success yet. But the concern too is that
Iran is just dragging its feed here. Same concern, by
the way, we've had about Vladimir Putin dragging his feed
when it comes to the invasion of Ukraine.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
Final question, Rory, do you think the EU and those
that are negotiating and trying to talk with Iran today,
do you think they'll have any sway whatsoever, especially if
Iran feels are under attack at this.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
Point, Well, you know, they have had more of a
working relationship with Iran. Remember the last Iran nuclear deal
was really broker by most of the European nations. Of course,
President Trump took us out of it. But yeah, there
does seem to be more of a of a history
of working together with the EU and Iran, so maybe
there is some progress that can be made. But again
Israel has really been outspoken saying they're concerned that Iran's

(04:06):
capacity to have a nuclear weapon is imminent and they
think that has to be neutralized immediately. And again Israel
seeking regime change so that we're not in the same
place again three years from now.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
iHeart correspondent Roy O'Neill.

Speaker 2 (04:19):
Thank you.