logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
33m 45s

Killing hope: Iran's mind wars

The Observer
About this episode

The fall of Assad in Syria is a disaster for Iran, so much so that people are beginning to ask if this might finally be the moment when Iran’s pro-democracy movement breaks through. This is the story of one activist’s 25 year fight against the Islamic regime in Iran, a story of courage and despair.


Reporter: Ceri Thomas

Producer: Katie Gunning

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

Artwork: Jon Hill

Show's Executive Producer: Matt Russell


To find out more about Tortoise:


Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists


Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content


Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Aug 21
What does a mass shooter’s chatbot history reveal?
After a 2025 mass shooting on Florida State University’s campus, investigators found a year’s worth of chat history between the shooter and ChatGPT. MotherJones’ Mark Follman has been investigating what the chat log reveals about the shooter and the chatbot and examines how AI re ... Show More
25m 28s
Aug 18
Ctrl Alt Restore
Rupert Lowe is the MP for Great Yarmouth, and the leader of Restore Britain, a right-wing political party which launched in February this year. So, how did the leader of such a young, fringe party end up appearing as a guest on the world’s most popular podcast? And what does it t ... Show More
35m 47s
Aug 14
What next for Reform and Nigel Farage?
Nigel Farage has been re-elected as MP for Clacton. But that also means a Parliamentary investigation into Farage resumes. So what's next for Reform and their leader? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 
22m 32s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2020
Is The Door To Iran Closed Forever?
In light of all the news coming out of Iran, we're talking with Jason Rezaian — an Iranian-American author and journalist who has experienced Iran's contradictions up close.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to ma ... Show More
30m 52s
Sep 2022
What Iranian Protesters Need Now
What began as a revolt in the wake of an overstep by Iran’s morality police has evolved into a mass movement calling for “death to the dictator.” Protests in Iran are nothing new, but these demonstrations strike at the heart of the Islamic Republic’s repressive regime. Could the ... Show More
22m 10s
Feb 2024
The View From Iran
<p>To understand any country's foreign policy you need to understand domestic political dynamics. So what is driving Iranian decision making right now? Negar Mortazavi is a journalist, host of the Iran Podcast and senior fellow at the Center for International Policy. I reached ou ... Show More
25m 36s
Apr 2024
Arash Azizi on Iran's Turbulent Past and its Uncertain Future
Regularly embroiled in international conflicts – both militarily and diplomatically – and locked in a cycle of protest and heavy government crackdowns on the domestic political front, Iran has rarely been out of the international spotlight over the past decades. The protests in r ... Show More
46m 30s
Oct 2022
Why Iranians are burning their hijabs
The death of 22-year old Mahsa Amini whilst in police custody has sparked nationwide protests in Iran. The authorities have responded with a heavy crackdown, and it’s estimated over 130 people have died so far. As protests continue, could the death of one young woman lead to regi ... Show More
36m 21s
Oct 2024
The Axis of Resistance Pt. 1: the Proxies
Over the past month, Iran and its regional network of allies and proxies - The Axis of Resistance - has suffered a string of dramatic losses and defeats. What is the future of the Axis and its members, and what can the US and its allies do to confront and disrupt this Iranian-led ... Show More
37m 44s
Feb 2025
With ‘maximum pressure’ back on the table, what will Iran do next?
Iran is facing a changed Middle East as it marks the anniversary of the Islamic revolution. With weakened allies and growing tensions with Israel and the United States, how will Iran’s leadership approach the year ahead? In this episode: Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera ... Show More
20m 23s
Oct 2022
One Thing: She’s Fleeing Iran. But Not the Fight.
Thousands have taken to the streets in Iran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being detained by the country’s morality police. Hundreds have reportedly been killed by authorities during the unrest. We explore whether the uprising will bring about lasting ... Show More
15 m