From wars and rumors of war abroad, to the rise of anti-Christian, "woke" ideology here at home, it's clear that Americans are living in perilous and unprecedented times. Some would even say that we're witnessing biblical prophecy unfold in real time. Stakelbeck Tonight will make sense of these stunning developments through a bold and biblical lens.
#News
#Media
#Government
#Politics
#War
#Israel
#Terrorism
#Culture
#PersonalStory
#Military
#ErickStakelbeck
#AaronCohen
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Stakelbeck Tonight | Erick Stakelbeck: Iran Negotiations: What Happens Next? | Stakelbeck Tonight | April 9, 2026
- Welcome to stakelbeck tonight.
- 00:00:03.326 --> 00:00:05.061
- I'm erick stakelbeck.
- 00:00:05.061 --> 00:00:06.196
- And president ronald reagan had a rule
- 00:00:06.196 --> 00:00:09.299
- When it came to dealing with the soviet union.
- 00:00:09.299 --> 00:00:12.702
- Trust but verify.
- 00:00:12.702 --> 00:00:15.438
- He knew the atheistic soviet regime was not very good
- 00:00:15.438 --> 00:00:19.476
- About keeping its word.
- 00:00:19.476 --> 00:00:20.977
- So he and his team followed up continuously to make sure
- 00:00:20.977 --> 00:00:25.281
- The soviets were honoring what they had agreed to trust.
- 00:00:25.281 --> 00:00:29.185
- But verify.
- 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:30.820
- When it comes to the iranian regime today.
- 00:00:30.820 --> 00:00:33.823
- The challenge is even greater.
- 00:00:33.823 --> 00:00:36.059
- How can you have any sort
- 00:00:36.059 --> 00:00:37.393
- Of credible deal with a radical islamic death cult
- 00:00:37.393 --> 00:00:41.131
- Whose religion permits them to deceive non-muslim infidels?
- 00:00:41.131 --> 00:00:46.236
- The answer is you can.
- 00:00:46.236 --> 00:00:48.505
- With iran, the approach must be don't trust, but verify.
- 00:00:48.505 --> 00:00:53.610
- Thankfully, president trump realizes this.
- 00:00:53.610 --> 00:00:55.979
- He knows there's a very good chance
- 00:00:55.979 --> 00:00:57.780
- Iran's regime will break
- 00:00:57.780 --> 00:00:59.482
- The two week cease fire that went into effect on tuesday.
- 00:00:59.482 --> 00:01:03.286
- And he's already warning the ayatollahs.
- 00:01:03.286 --> 00:01:05.822
- The president posted last night that all u.s.
- 00:01:05.822 --> 00:01:08.525
- Ships, aircraft and military personnel
- 00:01:08.525 --> 00:01:11.161
- With additional ammunition, weaponry
- 00:01:11.161 --> 00:01:13.630
- And anything else that is appropriate
- 00:01:13.630 --> 00:01:15.765
- And necessary for the lethal prosecution
- 00:01:15.765 --> 00:01:18.568
- And destruction of an already substantially degraded enemy,
- 00:01:18.568 --> 00:01:22.472
- Will remain in place in and around iran until such time
- 00:01:22.472 --> 00:01:26.309
- As the real agreement reached is fully complied with.
- 00:01:26.309 --> 00:01:30.246
- He threatened further military action if iran does not
- 00:01:30.246 --> 00:01:33.082
- Comply, and reiterated two red lines for the regime.
- 00:01:33.082 --> 00:01:37.687
- It must renounce its pursuit of nuclear weapons,
- 00:01:37.687 --> 00:01:40.890
- And it must keep the strait of hormuz open.
- 00:01:40.890 --> 00:01:44.527
- In addition, the president fully expects iran to give up
- 00:01:44.527 --> 00:01:47.964
- Any enriched uranium that it currently possesses
- 00:01:47.964 --> 00:01:51.134
- And its ballistic missile program and halt
- 00:01:51.134 --> 00:01:54.504
- Its support of terror groups like hezbollah.
- 00:01:54.504 --> 00:01:57.273
- A tall order for the mad mullahs.
- 00:01:57.273 --> 00:01:59.876
- And it's unclear whether they will agree
- 00:01:59.876 --> 00:02:02.645
- The next two weeks will tell the tale.
- 00:02:02.645 --> 00:02:06.015
- In the meantime, as of now, the cease fire does not extend
- 00:02:06.015 --> 00:02:09.986
- To lebanon, where iran's hezbollah
- 00:02:09.986 --> 00:02:12.855
- Minions just suffered a massive blow.
- 00:02:12.855 --> 00:02:16.059
- On wednesday, israel struck 100 high value hezbollah targets
- 00:02:16.059 --> 00:02:20.597
- Across lebanon in the span of just ten minutes.
- 00:02:20.597 --> 00:02:24.300
- Up to 300 hezbollah operatives are said
- 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:27.437
- To have been killed, including several top commanders.
- 00:02:27.437 --> 00:02:30.673
- Hezbollah had reportedly been planning a violent coup
- 00:02:30.673 --> 00:02:34.310
- To seize lebanon's government when israel acted.
- 00:02:34.310 --> 00:02:38.281
- Now israel began direct negotiations with lebanon today
- 00:02:38.281 --> 00:02:41.684
- So we could soon see the cease fire reached there as well.
- 00:02:41.684 --> 00:02:45.688
- But folks, make no mistake about it.
- 00:02:45.688 --> 00:02:48.358
- Hezbollah
- 00:02:48.358 --> 00:02:49.559
- And their iranian masters are a shell of what they were
- 00:02:49.559 --> 00:02:52.795
- When the united states and israel launched
- 00:02:52.795 --> 00:02:54.797
- Their historic joint operation on february 28th.
- 00:02:54.797 --> 00:02:58.801
- That's a very good thing for the people of iran
- 00:02:58.801 --> 00:03:01.638
- And lebanon, not to mention israel, america,
- 00:03:01.638 --> 00:03:04.941
- The broader middle east, and the entire free world.
- 00:03:04.941 --> 00:03:08.444
- So will the cease fire hold.
- 00:03:08.444 --> 00:03:11.014
- And what comes next in the world's most chaotic
- 00:03:11.014 --> 00:03:13.683
- And strategic region?
- 00:03:13.683 --> 00:03:15.251
- Israeli special forces veteran aaron cohen is here to
- 00:03:15.251 --> 00:03:18.154
- Break it down. next.
- 00:03:18.154 --> 00:03:37.040
- Did israel just prevent a
- 00:03:37.607 --> 00:03:39.776
- Hezbollah takeover of lebanon's government?
- 00:03:39.776 --> 00:03:43.313
- New reports reveal
- 00:03:43.313 --> 00:03:44.514
- A potential hezbollah plot to seize control from within.
- 00:03:44.514 --> 00:03:48.051
- Foiled by massive israeli airstrikes.
- 00:03:48.051 --> 00:03:51.554
- Now, with cease fire talks ongoing and iran continuing
- 00:03:51.554 --> 00:03:55.091
- To play a double game.
- 00:03:55.091 --> 00:03:56.826
- The big question is what comes next?
- 00:03:56.826 --> 00:03:59.996
- Joining us to break it down
- 00:03:59.996 --> 00:04:01.130
- Is aaron cohen and israeli special operations veteran
- 00:04:01.130 --> 00:04:04.167
- And one of the world's leading experts
- 00:04:04.167 --> 00:04:05.902
- On counterterrorism, intelligence and urban warfare.
- 00:04:05.902 --> 00:04:09.305
- He's also founder
- 00:04:09.305 --> 00:04:10.473
- Of the gideon threat detection for law enforcement
- 00:04:10.473 --> 00:04:13.309
- And host of the aaron cohen show.
- 00:04:13.309 --> 00:04:15.445
- Aaron, always great to see you, my friend.
- 00:04:15.445 --> 00:04:17.814
- It seems that israel uncovered this plot by hezbollah
- 00:04:17.814 --> 00:04:21.584
- To essentially overthrow the lebanese government.
- 00:04:21.584 --> 00:04:24.687
- Aaron, what more do we know about this?
- 00:04:24.687 --> 00:04:27.156
- And lebanon apparently averted a major disaster here, thanks
- 00:04:27.156 --> 00:04:30.660
- To the israeli air force.
- 00:04:30.660 --> 00:04:32.528
- That's right.
- 00:04:32.895 --> 00:04:33.696
- Erick, always good to be on with you.
- 00:04:33.696 --> 00:04:34.731
- So what israel uncovered here,
- 00:04:34.731 --> 00:04:38.000
- Wasn't routine military activity.
- 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:41.671
- This was a very structure.
- 00:04:41.671 --> 00:04:43.272
- Structured takeover attempt.
- 00:04:43.272 --> 00:04:45.808
- Hezbollah spent decades building a parallel state
- 00:04:45.808 --> 00:04:49.445
- Inside of lebanon.
- 00:04:49.445 --> 00:04:51.147
- Its own military, its own intelligence apparatus.
- 00:04:51.147 --> 00:04:53.883
- I don't think people understand exactly what's involved.
- 00:04:53.883 --> 00:04:56.619
- Its own command structure, that operates
- 00:04:56.619 --> 00:05:00.022
- Independently of the lebanese government.
- 00:05:00.022 --> 00:05:03.059
- And so what israeli intelligence likely picked up.
- 00:05:03.059 --> 00:05:06.396
- And that would be the amon,
- 00:05:06.396 --> 00:05:07.730
- The august modine, the intelligence
- 00:05:07.730 --> 00:05:09.632
- Branch of the idf, as well as unit 504,
- 00:05:09.632 --> 00:05:12.635
- Which is israel's human intelligence gathering unit.
- 00:05:12.635 --> 00:05:15.772
- What they like they picked up was a transition point.
- 00:05:15.772 --> 00:05:18.541
- Erick, is what we refer to it as nick transitioned and where
- 00:05:18.541 --> 00:05:22.645
- That shadow system stops operating behind the scenes
- 00:05:22.645 --> 00:05:26.649
- And starts formalizing control is sort of how we explain it.
- 00:05:26.649 --> 00:05:30.887
- And that's the moment
- 00:05:30.887 --> 00:05:32.021
- A country doesn't just have a terrorist problem.
- 00:05:32.021 --> 00:05:36.492
- It becomes controlled by one.
- 00:05:36.492 --> 00:05:38.327
- And in this case,
- 00:05:38.327 --> 00:05:39.362
- That means that lebanon effectively was becoming
- 00:05:39.362 --> 00:05:42.832
- An iranian controlled state on israel's northern border.
- 00:05:42.832 --> 00:05:47.904
- So very significant. what just happened? yeah.
- 00:05:47.904 --> 00:05:50.606
- How close did they come around
- 00:05:50.606 --> 00:05:52.141
- To actually seizing lebanon's government? hezbollah?
- 00:05:52.141 --> 00:05:54.744
- And what does this say about
- 00:05:54.744 --> 00:05:56.212
- Hezbollah's long term strategy for lebanon?
- 00:05:56.212 --> 00:05:59.615
- Erick, it's a very smart question.
- 00:06:00.349 --> 00:06:02.485
- They were very, very close.
- 00:06:02.485 --> 00:06:05.521
- And that's the uncomfortable reality of the neighborhood.
- 00:06:05.521 --> 00:06:08.925
- Hezbollah already dominates southern lebanon militarily,
- 00:06:08.925 --> 00:06:12.462
- Even though israel significantly weaken them.
- 00:06:12.462 --> 00:06:15.465
- And they've embedded themselves very deeply into the political
- 00:06:15.465 --> 00:06:19.001
- System in beirut.
- 00:06:19.001 --> 00:06:19.902
- And so over time, they've hollowed out,
- 00:06:19.902 --> 00:06:24.140
- The authority of the central government while strengthening,
- 00:06:24.140 --> 00:06:29.712
- Their influence.
- 00:06:30.112 --> 00:06:31.414
- And so they already have it.
- 00:06:31.414 --> 00:06:33.049
- And so what israel likely saw was the final phase
- 00:06:33.049 --> 00:06:36.252
- Intelligence.
- 00:06:36.252 --> 00:06:37.353
- Israel's intelligence saw the final phase of that,
- 00:06:37.353 --> 00:06:41.090
- Consolidation, i guess, is the best term
- 00:06:41.090 --> 00:06:43.493
- Where hezbollah moves from de-facto power to formal,
- 00:06:43.493 --> 00:06:47.897
- Irreversible control of the state apparatus.
- 00:06:47.897 --> 00:06:51.734
- And that's very, very dangerous for israel.
- 00:06:51.734 --> 00:06:54.003
- It's very dangerous for the region.
- 00:06:54.003 --> 00:06:55.571
- Yeah. aaron, great breakdown and reporter.
- 00:06:55.571 --> 00:06:57.540
- Look, hezbollah has lost some 1400 fighters over the past
- 00:06:57.540 --> 00:07:01.844
- Two years or so.
- 00:07:01.844 --> 00:07:03.079
- How heavy of the blows been dealt to hezbollah?
- 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:06.249
- They seem to be a shell of their former self at this point.
- 00:07:06.249 --> 00:07:09.652
- Yeah.
- 00:07:09.886 --> 00:07:10.786
- So the number is extremely significant.
- 00:07:10.786 --> 00:07:12.555
- Erick, in my opinion, operation, i'll tell you why
- 00:07:12.555 --> 00:07:15.091
- You're not just talking
- 00:07:15.091 --> 00:07:16.225
- About rank and file fighters here or terror fighters.
- 00:07:16.225 --> 00:07:19.462
- You're talking about very experienced terrorist operators.
- 00:07:19.462 --> 00:07:24.066
- That would be the unit leaders, the,
- 00:07:24.066 --> 00:07:26.669
- Mid-level commanders who hold the organization together.
- 00:07:26.669 --> 00:07:31.073
- You know, that's the real meat and potatoes inside there.
- 00:07:31.073 --> 00:07:33.743
- And so when you lose that layer, what's going to happen
- 00:07:33.743 --> 00:07:36.445
- Is you're going to lose coordination.
- 00:07:36.445 --> 00:07:38.314
- You're going to lose the,
- 00:07:38.314 --> 00:07:39.515
- Tactical decision making as well as the institutional,
- 00:07:39.515 --> 00:07:43.686
- Memory, i guess, is the best way to, to, to describe it.
- 00:07:44.754 --> 00:07:48.090
- And so, these are not very easily replaceable pieces here.
- 00:07:48.090 --> 00:07:52.361
- And so while hezbollah can recruit new fighters,
- 00:07:52.361 --> 00:07:54.764
- Which they're probably already doing, rebuilding that level.
- 00:07:54.764 --> 00:07:59.068
- Excuse me of capability, erick, that takes years,
- 00:07:59.068 --> 00:08:02.638
- Especially under sustained pressure
- 00:08:02.638 --> 00:08:06.309
- From israeli ongoing operations,
- 00:08:06.309 --> 00:08:08.477
- Which is what you're seeing here right now. yeah.
- 00:08:08.477 --> 00:08:10.580
- And the israeli operations by the way, aaron,
- 00:08:10.580 --> 00:08:12.415
- And you know this so well, israeli intelligence here.
- 00:08:12.415 --> 00:08:15.184
- Incredible job.
- 00:08:15.184 --> 00:08:16.252
- Some are saying the strikes
- 00:08:16.252 --> 00:08:17.853
- Yesterday on hezbollah were the most significant
- 00:08:17.853 --> 00:08:19.789
- Since the beeper operation back in september 2024.
- 00:08:19.789 --> 00:08:22.858
- Hezbollah now apparently begging for a cease fire.
- 00:08:22.858 --> 00:08:25.995
- Surely iran would like to see that.
- 00:08:25.995 --> 00:08:27.830
- What's the status there?
- 00:08:27.830 --> 00:08:29.098
- I know israel and lebanon have been direct negotiations now.
- 00:08:29.098 --> 00:08:32.835
- Could we see that cease fire extend to lebanon very soon?
- 00:08:32.835 --> 00:08:37.006
- I think we could.
- 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:38.341
- I mean, there's there's clear signal
- 00:08:38.341 --> 00:08:39.775
- That hezbollah is under stress. iran doesn't push.
- 00:08:39.775 --> 00:08:42.678
- Look around us and push for pauses
- 00:08:42.678 --> 00:08:45.781
- When the proxy is winning.
- 00:08:45.781 --> 00:08:48.150
- Erick.
- 00:08:48.150 --> 00:08:49.018
- They do it when they need to preserve
- 00:08:49.018 --> 00:08:49.885
- What's remaining, what's left.
- 00:08:49.885 --> 00:08:51.120
- And so to me, it suggests that hezbollah is taking losses
- 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:54.790
- That are affecting their operational capacity.
- 00:08:54.790 --> 00:08:58.027
- So, it isn't, you know, this isn't them
- 00:08:58.027 --> 00:09:01.030
- Being strategic here and being patient.
- 00:09:01.030 --> 00:09:02.898
- I think it's tehran stepping in to stabilize
- 00:09:02.898 --> 00:09:05.501
- What's left of a deteriorating situation, to prevent further
- 00:09:05.501 --> 00:09:09.639
- Degradation of one of its most important assets.
- 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:13.009
- You take away, hezbollah.
- 00:09:13.009 --> 00:09:14.944
- Erick, you're swiping away half of iran's identity.
- 00:09:14.944 --> 00:09:18.214
- So that's why i'm out with that.
- 00:09:18.214 --> 00:09:19.448
- No doubt hezbollah is the crown jewel in that iranian fire.
- 00:09:19.448 --> 00:09:23.452
- Aaron. great breakdown as always, my friend.
- 00:09:23.452 --> 00:09:25.054
- You'll be right back with us after the break, folks,
- 00:09:25.054 --> 00:09:26.989
- What is the status of the cease fire between iran
- 00:09:26.989 --> 00:09:30.593
- And the united states? what comes next?
- 00:09:30.593 --> 00:09:32.461
- More with israeli special forces veteran aaron cohen
- 00:09:32.461 --> 00:09:35.765
- After the break. stick around.
- 00:09:35.765 --> 00:09:40.005
- After the break. stick around.
- 00:09:40.005 --> 00:09:43.240
- Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight.
- 00:09:44.007 --> 00:09:45.709
- He is one of the world's foremost experts
- 00:09:45.709 --> 00:09:48.111
- On counter-terrorism.
- 00:09:48.111 --> 00:09:49.479
- He's an israeli special forces veteran.
- 00:09:49.479 --> 00:09:51.548
- He's host of the aaron cohen show and founder of gideon
- 00:09:51.548 --> 00:09:54.484
- Threat detection for law enforcement.
- 00:09:54.484 --> 00:09:56.653
- The one and only aaron cohen is back with us.
- 00:09:56.653 --> 00:09:59.956
- Aaron, it's been very interesting
- 00:09:59.956 --> 00:10:01.258
- The past few days, instructive, really,
- 00:10:01.258 --> 00:10:03.226
- To see the democrat party, the mainstream media,
- 00:10:03.226 --> 00:10:06.596
- And i would say the wacko wing, tucker carlson and those sorts
- 00:10:06.596 --> 00:10:10.567
- All basically declaring that
- 00:10:10.567 --> 00:10:12.769
- Israel and the united states lost this war
- 00:10:12.769 --> 00:10:16.206
- And iran comes out of it even stronger.
- 00:10:16.206 --> 00:10:19.242
- What's your take on that, aaron?
- 00:10:19.242 --> 00:10:20.377
- Because just surveying the scene, it seems to me
- 00:10:20.377 --> 00:10:23.980
- That the iranian regime suffered heavy, heavy losses
- 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:27.284
- That will take many years to recover from.
- 00:10:27.284 --> 00:10:30.454
- Erick, i want to be clear about this.
- 00:10:31.188 --> 00:10:33.657
- It's why don't listen to the grifters.
- 00:10:33.657 --> 00:10:35.826
- It's it's there's a lot of foreign influence right now.
- 00:10:35.826 --> 00:10:38.228
- I believe that's connected to a lot of these podcasters.
- 00:10:38.228 --> 00:10:42.165
- I'm not going to get into all of that right now,
- 00:10:42.165 --> 00:10:44.267
- But i will tell you that the only reason why this pause,
- 00:10:44.267 --> 00:10:46.603
- The only reason why
- 00:10:46.603 --> 00:10:47.537
- There's a ceasefire on the table right now,
- 00:10:47.537 --> 00:10:50.240
- Is because of what we call in hebrew. that's sealed alarcon.
- 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.609
- So that pressure, which is what created the pause.
- 00:10:52.609 --> 00:10:55.846
- So the amount of damage that was done
- 00:10:55.846 --> 00:10:57.814
- By the united states and israel, working together
- 00:10:57.814 --> 00:11:00.784
- In this counterterrorism elite coalition
- 00:11:00.784 --> 00:11:05.122
- Is the over 12,000 sorties and strikes that occurred,
- 00:11:05.122 --> 00:11:10.260
- By the united states and by israel, not to mention
- 00:11:10.260 --> 00:11:13.029
- The over 200 leaders that were assassinated
- 00:11:13.029 --> 00:11:16.466
- And taken out by the israeli defense forces
- 00:11:16.466 --> 00:11:19.102
- Through that mossad grade intelligence.
- 00:11:19.102 --> 00:11:21.438
- Then add to that the fact that 90% of the irgc navy
- 00:11:21.438 --> 00:11:26.176
- Has been completely eliminated.
- 00:11:26.176 --> 00:11:28.345
- Another 5 to 600
- 00:11:28.345 --> 00:11:31.248
- Drone and missile nodes have been destroyed.
- 00:11:31.248 --> 00:11:34.251
- So this isn't a traditional, cease fire.
- 00:11:34.251 --> 00:11:37.587
- This was pressure based.
- 00:11:37.587 --> 00:11:39.890
- The negotiations are only happening
- 00:11:39.890 --> 00:11:42.859
- Because i ran, realized that if they didn't sit down
- 00:11:42.859 --> 00:11:46.930
- And start negotiating, they were going to be killed.
- 00:11:46.930 --> 00:11:50.801
- The fact is, is that the damage was so incredible
- 00:11:50.801 --> 00:11:54.538
- That this forced the regime to make a decision.
- 00:11:54.538 --> 00:11:57.774
- Either come to the table
- 00:11:57.774 --> 00:11:59.176
- Or you're going to get completely eliminated. aaron.
- 00:11:59.176 --> 00:12:01.878
- Well said.
- 00:12:01.878 --> 00:12:02.913
- And you have said this is more a pressure pause,
- 00:12:02.913 --> 00:12:05.448
- Than a cease fire.
- 00:12:05.882 --> 00:12:07.117
- And by the way, president trump is saying that he believes
- 00:12:07.117 --> 00:12:09.953
- This is a sort of productive regime change in iran.
- 00:12:09.953 --> 00:12:13.456
- We still have elements of the regime in power, of course.
- 00:12:13.456 --> 00:12:16.226
- What do you make of that?
- 00:12:16.226 --> 00:12:17.427
- Is could this be classified as a regime change of sorts,
- 00:12:17.427 --> 00:12:20.797
- Or is that off the table
- 00:12:20.797 --> 00:12:22.098
- Until this regime is completely cast into
- 00:12:22.098 --> 00:12:24.935
- The ash heap of history?
- 00:12:24.935 --> 00:12:26.670
- Erick, i think that phrase,
- 00:12:27.270 --> 00:12:29.506
- The actual phrase productive regime change, i think what
- 00:12:29.506 --> 00:12:31.808
- It reflects, is internal weakening of the regime period.
- 00:12:31.808 --> 00:12:35.645
- It hasn't collapsed, but it's been significantly destabilized.
- 00:12:35.645 --> 00:12:40.750
- The leadership, is under pressure control mechanisms,
- 00:12:40.750 --> 00:12:44.754
- Which are completely strained at this point.
- 00:12:44.754 --> 00:12:46.823
- There's cracks that are forming.
- 00:12:46.823 --> 00:12:48.291
- I can tell you from my sources in israel in the middle
- 00:12:48.291 --> 00:12:51.995
- Right now.
- 00:12:51.995 --> 00:12:52.829
- And that's how regime change begins.
- 00:12:52.829 --> 00:12:54.731
- This isn't overnight,
- 00:12:54.731 --> 00:12:56.066
- But through sustained external and internal pressure.
- 00:12:56.066 --> 00:13:00.070
- You know, this saturday, aaron in islamabad, pakistan,
- 00:13:00.070 --> 00:13:03.240
- Vice president j.d.
- 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.241
- Vance, along with jared kushner, steve
- 00:13:04.241 --> 00:13:06.343
- Wyckoff will lead negotiations with the regime.
- 00:13:06.343 --> 00:13:10.447
- What do you expect to come out of this?
- 00:13:10.447 --> 00:13:12.282
- Anything good?
- 00:13:12.282 --> 00:13:13.516
- Will this cease fire really hold the full two weeks? who knows.
- 00:13:13.516 --> 00:13:15.952
- But what do you expect this weekend?
- 00:13:15.952 --> 00:13:18.088
- I think,
- 00:13:18.355 --> 00:13:19.356
- Erick, in the short term that it might hold,
- 00:13:19.356 --> 00:13:20.490
- But i think structurally i'm not sure if it will.
- 00:13:20.490 --> 00:13:22.926
- And i'm being i'm being
- 00:13:22.926 --> 00:13:24.361
- I hate to use the term realistic, it's very israeli,
- 00:13:24.361 --> 00:13:26.663
- But i think it speaks to directly what we're seeing here.
- 00:13:26.663 --> 00:13:28.965
- Iran strategic objectives, erick, have hasn't changed
- 00:13:28.965 --> 00:13:32.402
- And neither has their ideology.
- 00:13:32.402 --> 00:13:34.170
- And what that that's without that fundamental change.
- 00:13:34.170 --> 00:13:37.674
- Any pause in my opinion, is temporary.
- 00:13:37.674 --> 00:13:39.643
- But erick, it's cool the moment iran does not want to play ball
- 00:13:39.643 --> 00:13:44.414
- Operations will resume,
- 00:13:44.414 --> 00:13:47.450
- Which means hammering the irgc gcc's remaining nodes.
- 00:13:47.450 --> 00:13:51.321
- And don't forget
- 00:13:51.321 --> 00:13:52.889
- The the world has not seen the level of damage
- 00:13:52.889 --> 00:13:55.625
- That israel has done
- 00:13:55.625 --> 00:13:57.160
- Because iran has kept the internet shut off.
- 00:13:57.160 --> 00:13:59.763
- But i can assure you it is monstrous
- 00:13:59.763 --> 00:14:02.766
- And iran is feeling it right now.
- 00:14:02.766 --> 00:14:04.768
- So the next question is, is how you would,
- 00:14:04.768 --> 00:14:07.070
- Prevent that rebuilt? yeah. yeah.
- 00:14:07.070 --> 00:14:09.773
- Which would be their nuclear program in particular,
- 00:14:09.773 --> 00:14:12.943
- Of course. aaron, how do you prevent that?
- 00:14:12.943 --> 00:14:14.611
- Look, the twin threat, right?
- 00:14:14.611 --> 00:14:16.246
- Ballistic missiles, nuclear weapons.
- 00:14:16.246 --> 00:14:18.982
- How do you prevent that going forward?
- 00:14:18.982 --> 00:14:21.184
- You know, i said at the top of the show,
- 00:14:21.184 --> 00:14:22.752
- Ronald reagan, you say about the soviets trust
- 00:14:22.752 --> 00:14:24.955
- But verify with iran's ayatollahs it's don't trust
- 00:14:24.955 --> 00:14:28.491
- But verify.
- 00:14:28.491 --> 00:14:29.359
- How do we prevent them from rebuilding?
- 00:14:29.359 --> 00:14:32.062
- Constant pressure. erick.
- 00:14:32.062 --> 00:14:33.797
- Sanctions enforcement, more deep israeli driven intelligence
- 00:14:33.797 --> 00:14:38.368
- Monitoring, active disruption of the supply chains.
- 00:14:38.368 --> 00:14:41.571
- The moment they start to stand that up,
- 00:14:41.571 --> 00:14:43.306
- Putting more back in there, we hit it again.
- 00:14:43.306 --> 00:14:45.141
- And you have to close every pathway.
- 00:14:45.141 --> 00:14:47.911
- Erick. they used to rebuild.
- 00:14:47.911 --> 00:14:49.679
- If you give them space, they will use it.
- 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:52.615
- This is a deranged lunatic.
- 00:14:52.615 --> 00:14:56.186
- Ideology.
- 00:14:56.486 --> 00:14:57.454
- You've just got to keep those pathways
- 00:14:57.454 --> 00:14:59.422
- Completely shut off and hit them the moment those intel packets
- 00:14:59.422 --> 00:15:02.625
- Come in.
- 00:15:02.625 --> 00:15:03.093
- Yeah.
- 00:15:03.093 --> 00:15:04.127
- One of the big accomplishments of this operation,
- 00:15:04.127 --> 00:15:05.261
- Aaron, has been the elimination
- 00:15:05.261 --> 00:15:06.696
- Of supreme leader ayatollah khamenei.
- 00:15:06.696 --> 00:15:08.932
- Now, his son mojtaba has been named his successor.
- 00:15:08.932 --> 00:15:12.369
- But we haven't seen him very much over the past five weeks.
- 00:15:12.369 --> 00:15:15.205
- There's been reports he's been gravely injured.
- 00:15:15.205 --> 00:15:17.841
- Perhaps even dead.
- 00:15:17.841 --> 00:15:19.409
- What's his status?
- 00:15:19.409 --> 00:15:20.510
- Do we know anything further?
- 00:15:20.510 --> 00:15:21.678
- And who exactly is calling the shots in iran right now?
- 00:15:21.678 --> 00:15:24.647
- Erick, it's a good question.
- 00:15:25.248 --> 00:15:26.249
- Right now, we don't know whether he is
- 00:15:26.249 --> 00:15:28.051
- Or not out of the picture.
- 00:15:28.051 --> 00:15:29.619
- Likely what we're looking at internally
- 00:15:29.619 --> 00:15:31.521
- Is probably going to be competition
- 00:15:31.521 --> 00:15:32.922
- Within the regime, particularly amongst the,
- 00:15:32.922 --> 00:15:35.592
- Remain remanded, e.m.s.
- 00:15:35.592 --> 00:15:37.694
- Or irgc leadership.
- 00:15:37.694 --> 00:15:39.763
- Obviously, there's i think there's a ton
- 00:15:39.763 --> 00:15:41.364
- Of instability that's happening inside.
- 00:15:41.364 --> 00:15:43.099
- Right now.
- 00:15:43.099 --> 00:15:44.200
- I think there's a ton of uncertainty.
- 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:46.603
- And so, really just depending
- 00:15:46.603 --> 00:15:49.005
- On, who decides to step up,
- 00:15:49.005 --> 00:15:53.410
- Is yet to be determined.
- 00:15:53.943 --> 00:15:55.278
- You know, as that grass grows, we keep chopping it down.
- 00:15:55.278 --> 00:15:57.680
- And so, i can't really tell you,
- 00:15:57.680 --> 00:16:01.684
- But i think that there's people inside of israel in the us,
- 00:16:01.684 --> 00:16:05.321
- Command that are keeping an eye on that very closely.
- 00:16:06.389 --> 00:16:09.325
- Yeah. aaron. about 45 seconds left.
- 00:16:09.325 --> 00:16:11.261
- Then we'll bring you right back after the break.
- 00:16:11.261 --> 00:16:12.796
- You would think that there's got to be disarray
- 00:16:12.796 --> 00:16:15.331
- Right within the regime right now.
- 00:16:15.331 --> 00:16:16.866
- Maybe some infighting, some uncertainty.
- 00:16:16.866 --> 00:16:19.969
- Do you sense that that may be the case in iran right now?
- 00:16:19.969 --> 00:16:23.673
- Do. in fact, i think the iranian people
- 00:16:24.507 --> 00:16:26.376
- Have wanted change for a long time,
- 00:16:26.376 --> 00:16:28.078
- If that's what you're drilling.
- 00:16:28.078 --> 00:16:29.012
- And i think that,
- 00:16:29.012 --> 00:16:30.513
- I think that there's movement in that direction.
- 00:16:30.513 --> 00:16:32.582
- Right now.
- 00:16:32.582 --> 00:16:33.616
- I think that all of this instability right now
- 00:16:33.616 --> 00:16:34.717
- That trump's created has caused that pressure
- 00:16:34.717 --> 00:16:36.786
- To start exposing the weaknesses within the system.
- 00:16:36.786 --> 00:16:39.589
- I think that we could see this thing continuously.
- 00:16:39.589 --> 00:16:42.659
- Keep opening up, erick.
- 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:43.760
- I'm optimistic.
- 00:16:43.760 --> 00:16:44.727
- And remember, once israel and the u.s.
- 00:16:44.727 --> 00:16:46.896
- Turn the lights off, if they decide to
- 00:16:46.896 --> 00:16:48.631
- Go after any of that power,
- 00:16:48.631 --> 00:16:51.234
- That's going to create an incredible amount of chaos.
- 00:16:51.234 --> 00:16:53.870
- And there's 90 million people ready to stand up.
- 00:16:53.870 --> 00:16:56.906
- Once that chaos starts. so,
- 00:16:56.906 --> 00:16:59.809
- At the end of the day, eric, we've set them back ten years.
- 00:16:59.809 --> 00:17:03.713
- We've already won.
- 00:17:03.713 --> 00:17:05.348
- Yeah. amen.
- 00:17:05.348 --> 00:17:06.549
- Aaron. great breakdown, folks.
- 00:17:06.549 --> 00:17:07.851
- Follow him on instagram across social media,
- 00:17:07.851 --> 00:17:10.053
- Of course, youtube, the aaron cohen show
- 00:17:10.053 --> 00:17:12.288
- And more with aaron after the break, we're talking
- 00:17:12.288 --> 00:17:14.691
- Strait of hormuz.
- 00:17:14.691 --> 00:17:15.825
- What about that enriched uranium inside iran?
- 00:17:15.825 --> 00:17:18.394
- And what about the future of the nato alliance?
- 00:17:18.394 --> 00:17:20.897
- More with aaron cohen after the break.
- 00:17:20.897 --> 00:17:23.133
- Donâ–ˆt move.
- 00:17:23.133 --> 00:17:26.007
- Donâ–ˆt move.
- 00:17:26.007 --> 00:17:28.974
- Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight
- 00:17:29.708 --> 00:17:31.243
- We're talking to our good friend aaron cohen
- 00:17:31.243 --> 00:17:33.178
- About the state of play in iran right now.
- 00:17:33.178 --> 00:17:36.047
- Aaron, obviously a massive issue here is the strait of hormuz.
- 00:17:36.047 --> 00:17:39.918
- President trump is demanding
- 00:17:39.918 --> 00:17:41.386
- That the iranian regime keep that vital waterway open.
- 00:17:41.386 --> 00:17:45.023
- What if they don't?
- 00:17:45.023 --> 00:17:46.258
- I guess that's the big question. how does that impact things?
- 00:17:46.258 --> 00:17:48.793
- How crucial
- 00:17:48.793 --> 00:17:49.895
- Is the strait of hormuz to the overall picture here?
- 00:17:49.895 --> 00:17:53.198
- Well, listen, it's,
- 00:17:53.198 --> 00:17:54.432
- It's a major escalation point, erick, you're looking at disrupt
- 00:17:54.432 --> 00:17:56.501
- Disruption to, global oil markets.
- 00:17:56.501 --> 00:17:58.904
- We're already feeling it, certainly here in california.
- 00:17:58.904 --> 00:18:01.473
- Economic shockwaves.
- 00:18:01.473 --> 00:18:02.874
- My contention is that there
- 00:18:02.874 --> 00:18:05.177
- If the irgc does not open up that strait
- 00:18:05.177 --> 00:18:09.181
- Within the next week to two weeks, by the end of this deal,
- 00:18:09.181 --> 00:18:13.685
- You're likely going to see
- 00:18:13.685 --> 00:18:14.653
- Military response is to reopen the strait.
- 00:18:14.653 --> 00:18:17.656
- It's really iran's last major leverage point.
- 00:18:17.656 --> 00:18:21.092
- Trump, his team. israel.
- 00:18:21.092 --> 00:18:24.095
- They will not have it.
- 00:18:24.095 --> 00:18:25.463
- So if they hold on to that little last point
- 00:18:25.463 --> 00:18:28.533
- That strait will immediately see operations, in my opinion.
- 00:18:28.533 --> 00:18:32.204
- Yeah, that's.
- 00:18:32.204 --> 00:18:32.871
- A red line and also a red line
- 00:18:32.871 --> 00:18:34.005
- For both israel and the united states.
- 00:18:34.005 --> 00:18:35.941
- Aaron, is iran's enriched
- 00:18:35.941 --> 00:18:37.609
- Uranium now president trump wants iran any existing uranium.
- 00:18:37.609 --> 00:18:41.213
- And i suppose a lot of it's buried
- 00:18:41.213 --> 00:18:42.614
- Under the rubble of those destroyed iranian nuclear sites.
- 00:18:42.614 --> 00:18:45.417
- But he wants any existing uranium on iranian
- 00:18:45.417 --> 00:18:48.420
- Soil ferreted out of the country.
- 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:51.523
- How do we make that happen?
- 00:18:51.523 --> 00:18:52.724
- Does iran agree to that? how do you see
- 00:18:52.724 --> 00:18:54.759
- The enriched uranium dilemma right now in iran?
- 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:58.930
- Erick, it's complex.
- 00:18:59.397 --> 00:19:00.565
- It's a multi-phase operation, but it's always doable.
- 00:19:00.565 --> 00:19:04.035
- And, and and of course, they should know,
- 00:19:04.035 --> 00:19:06.037
- Like we say, in hebrew, there's no,
- 00:19:06.037 --> 00:19:07.405
- Way it's not going to get sorted out,
- 00:19:07.405 --> 00:19:09.007
- Especially when it comes to the,
- 00:19:09.007 --> 00:19:10.342
- Uranium and the nuclear capability.
- 00:19:10.342 --> 00:19:12.410
- I think this is going to be a multi-phase operation.
- 00:19:12.410 --> 00:19:15.013
- You're going to identify and secure the nuclear sites.
- 00:19:15.013 --> 00:19:17.349
- Israel's are we going to have that intelligence?
- 00:19:17.349 --> 00:19:19.284
- They're going to be able to action it.
- 00:19:19.284 --> 00:19:20.685
- You're you're going to have to extract
- 00:19:20.685 --> 00:19:22.120
- And neutralize those materials.
- 00:19:22.120 --> 00:19:23.688
- It's probably going to likely involve special operations units
- 00:19:23.688 --> 00:19:26.725
- Combined with those be, two cluster bombs again.
- 00:19:26.725 --> 00:19:29.761
- And then you're gonna have to maintain
- 00:19:29.761 --> 00:19:31.229
- Long term monitoring to ensure compliance.
- 00:19:31.229 --> 00:19:34.933
- And that's going to involve
- 00:19:34.933 --> 00:19:36.601
- Physical inspections at the end of the deal,
- 00:19:36.601 --> 00:19:39.371
- Which is probably going to be sprinkled or layered,
- 00:19:39.371 --> 00:19:41.740
- Layered in erick, with, long term electronic
- 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:45.877
- And intelligence gathering from israel
- 00:19:45.877 --> 00:19:48.046
- To make sure that the iranians are not lying.
- 00:19:48.046 --> 00:19:50.382
- The mullahs are liars. it's embedded in their dna.
- 00:19:50.382 --> 00:19:53.151
- So it's not a one time strike.
- 00:19:53.151 --> 00:19:54.953
- It's going to be an ongoing control effort.
- 00:19:54.953 --> 00:19:56.821
- But the good news is, is that, again,
- 00:19:56.821 --> 00:19:58.423
- We've pushed him back a decade.
- 00:19:58.423 --> 00:20:00.091
- We've trimmed that grass.
- 00:20:00.091 --> 00:20:01.393
- And so everything moving forward here is a gift, as you said.
- 00:20:01.393 --> 00:20:03.762
- Yeah, the regime will never be what it once was.
- 00:20:03.762 --> 00:20:06.264
- That has been accomplished
- 00:20:06.264 --> 00:20:07.332
- And more over the past five and a half weeks.
- 00:20:07.332 --> 00:20:09.401
- Aaron, what's also been reestablished and confirmed is,
- 00:20:09.401 --> 00:20:12.704
- In my view,
- 00:20:12.704 --> 00:20:13.838
- That israel is america's greatest ally in the world.
- 00:20:13.838 --> 00:20:16.708
- And it's not even close.
- 00:20:16.708 --> 00:20:17.909
- I look at great britain, canada, france, germany, spain,
- 00:20:17.909 --> 00:20:21.212
- The list goes on.
- 00:20:21.212 --> 00:20:22.147
- Aaron, nato,
- 00:20:22.147 --> 00:20:23.248
- Our european allies have taken a complete pass here.
- 00:20:23.248 --> 00:20:26.117
- They had a unique opportunity
- 00:20:26.117 --> 00:20:27.252
- To help defend judeo-christian western civilization.
- 00:20:27.252 --> 00:20:31.189
- They decided to take a past.
- 00:20:31.189 --> 00:20:32.824
- President trump is not happy with nato.
- 00:20:32.824 --> 00:20:34.759
- What do you see as the future of the nato alliance?
- 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:37.562
- Is there a future for nato?
- 00:20:37.562 --> 00:20:39.364
- I wouldn't be surprised if trump pulls out.
- 00:20:39.364 --> 00:20:41.232
- If they don't get their act together.
- 00:20:41.232 --> 00:20:42.267
- I mean, look, erick, this one's about leverage.
- 00:20:42.267 --> 00:20:44.469
- President trump is pushing nato to carry more of the burden.
- 00:20:44.469 --> 00:20:46.971
- If they don't, i wouldn't be surprised if the u.s.
- 00:20:46.971 --> 00:20:49.140
- Pulls out,
- 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:50.241
- What percentage of the bill is the americans paying?
- 00:20:50.241 --> 00:20:52.844
- So i don't think it's about abandoning any alliances here.
- 00:20:52.844 --> 00:20:55.613
- I think it's about recalibrating them
- 00:20:55.613 --> 00:20:57.816
- So that they get on board.
- 00:20:57.816 --> 00:20:59.517
- The fact is, we've been carrying them for years.
- 00:20:59.517 --> 00:21:01.920
- And either they get down with the united states,
- 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:04.189
- They start getting involved, or it's time to pull out.
- 00:21:04.189 --> 00:21:06.191
- Because honestly, that organization
- 00:21:06.191 --> 00:21:07.392
- Has been a waste of our time for for many years.
- 00:21:07.392 --> 00:21:10.261
- Yeah. well, said my friend, about a minute left.
- 00:21:10.261 --> 00:21:12.530
- Do you see new alliances forming?
- 00:21:12.530 --> 00:21:14.799
- I think of the uae, arab gulf states, israel of course.
- 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:18.002
- Could we see some a new trajectory here in america
- 00:21:18.002 --> 00:21:21.406
- In terms of the nations
- 00:21:21.406 --> 00:21:22.507
- America leans on and aligns with in the future?
- 00:21:22.507 --> 00:21:24.709
- About a minute left.
- 00:21:24.709 --> 00:21:26.144
- I do, erick,
- 00:21:26.144 --> 00:21:26.978
- And i think that there's
- 00:21:26.978 --> 00:21:27.846
- Some great look,
- 00:21:27.846 --> 00:21:28.813
- The whole point
- 00:21:28.813 --> 00:21:30.014
- Of wiping out the irgc, erick, besides getting after that,
- 00:21:30.014 --> 00:21:32.584
- Uranium and degrading their missile capabilities is about,
- 00:21:32.584 --> 00:21:36.821
- Eradicating the mullahs threat from the region.
- 00:21:36.821 --> 00:21:39.557
- They've been the bulldog for almost 50 years.
- 00:21:39.557 --> 00:21:41.893
- And what we're watching right now is the systematic rollback
- 00:21:41.893 --> 00:21:45.230
- Of iran's regional power, which includes hezbollah.
- 00:21:45.230 --> 00:21:48.733
- So this is long overdue,
- 00:21:48.733 --> 00:21:51.136
- This correction, and it's going to open up
- 00:21:51.136 --> 00:21:52.904
- A whole new wave of allies in the region.
- 00:21:52.904 --> 00:21:55.273
- And we look forward to those relationships
- 00:21:55.273 --> 00:21:58.109
- And what it's going to bring, moving into the future
- 00:21:58.109 --> 00:22:00.912
- With these types of partners in the middle east.
- 00:22:00.912 --> 00:22:03.014
- It's very exciting. yeah, aaron great stuff.
- 00:22:03.014 --> 00:22:05.183
- The sky is the limit.
- 00:22:05.183 --> 00:22:06.351
- I mean, a real sense of optimism in the world's
- 00:22:06.351 --> 00:22:08.987
- Most volatile region in the middle east.
- 00:22:08.987 --> 00:22:10.789
- For the first time in at least 47 years
- 00:22:10.789 --> 00:22:13.024
- Since that regime in tehran took power.
- 00:22:13.024 --> 00:22:14.959
- But aaron, great break down, folks.
- 00:22:14.959 --> 00:22:16.728
- Check him out on the aaron cohen show. gideon.
- 00:22:16.728 --> 00:22:19.063
- Threat detection
- 00:22:19.063 --> 00:22:20.031
- For law enforcement doing incredible work
- 00:22:20.031 --> 00:22:21.599
- There ex instagram across social media
- 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:24.335
- Aaron great job as always my friend. god bless.
- 00:22:24.335 --> 00:22:26.371
- Keep up the great work.
- 00:22:26.371 --> 00:22:27.172
- We will see you again soon.
- 00:22:27.172 --> 00:22:28.506
- And up next, my final thoughts on the state of play.
- 00:22:28.506 --> 00:22:31.576
- What can we expect in the next two weeks and long term
- 00:22:31.576 --> 00:22:35.346
- That's next. stick around.
- 00:22:35.346 --> 00:22:39.005
- That's next. stick around.
- 00:22:39.005 --> 00:22:41.785
- Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight.
- 00:22:42.553 --> 00:22:43.987
- What a great break down
- 00:22:43.987 --> 00:22:44.955
- From our good friend aaron cohen tonight.
- 00:22:44.955 --> 00:22:46.623
- And folks were talking about ceasefires.
- 00:22:46.623 --> 00:22:48.692
- Will they come.
- 00:22:48.692 --> 00:22:49.927
- Will they hold what comes next i think of the gospel of matthew
- 00:22:49.927 --> 00:22:52.830
- Chapter 24 verse six.
- 00:22:52.830 --> 00:22:54.398
- Jesus said, you will hear of wars and rumors of wars,
- 00:22:54.398 --> 00:22:58.235
- But see to it that you are not alarmed.
- 00:22:58.235 --> 00:23:00.471
- Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
- 00:23:00.471 --> 00:23:04.374
- That means we still have time
- 00:23:04.374 --> 00:23:06.109
- To be ambassadors for christ, to spread the gospel,
- 00:23:06.109 --> 00:23:08.946
- And to spread the truth for such a time as this.
- 00:23:08.946 --> 00:23:11.281
- So let's get busy.
- 00:23:11.281 --> 00:23:12.916
- Tomorrow night we're in tel dan in the holy land.
- 00:23:12.916 --> 00:23:15.986
- Israel. folks, you won't want to miss this.
- 00:23:15.986 --> 00:23:17.788
- Abraham's gate.
- 00:23:17.788 --> 00:23:18.989
- Amazing ancient site.
- 00:23:18.989 --> 00:23:20.457
- Until then, god bless you and we'll see you soon.
- 00:23:20.457 --> 00:23:20.457