Iran’s Grand Strategy

As the U.S.-Iran MOU unravels, clashes in the Strait of Hormuz are pushing both sides back toward war. We examine the escalation, the strategy in Washington and Tehran, and what remains of diplomacy. Negar Mortazavi on Al Jazeera 

The U.S. and Iran are exchanging strikes for the sixth day in a row, as the two countries battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz.Negar Mortazavi joins NPR 

Trump imposes a blockade on Iran. Tehran escalates in the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides are back to hot conflict. What are their goals, what is the strategy, and who can absorb more pain over the long run? Negar Mortazavi and Doug Bandow of Cato Institute on Aljazeera 

In this episode of MEnbar, Marc Owen Jones speaks with Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and Africa Programme in Chatham House, about the Twelve Day War between Israel and Iran and its impacts on Iran’s nuclear program. Vakil discusses the implications of these attacks on ... Show More

In episode 51 of Tahrir Podcast, Professor Vali Nasr joined to discuss his new book, Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History (Princeton University Press, 2025).Drawing on decades of internal debates, foreign policy shifts, and national security doctrine, the book unpacks how t ... Show More

<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

US stocks almost hit record highs amid possible de-escalation in the Middle East, and Johns Hopkins University professor Vali Nasr analyses Iran’s future. Plus, the US Federal Reserve chair signalled no interest cuts this summer, and US states are sending delegates to the EU for ... Show More

<p>Will Israel get its wish - an armed confrontation with Iran? We're joined by brilliant American-Iranian analyst and author Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.</p><p>Support this show <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="http://supporte ... Show More

<p>In this episode of <em>Hold Your Fire!</em>, Richard is joined by Crisis Group’s Iran Project Director Ali Vaez to talk about Iran’s position on the war in Gaza and its advantages and drawbacks for Tehran. They look at Iran’s links with what it calls the “Axis of Resistance” – ... Show More

Vox's Josh Keating and author Vali Nasr explain what bombing Iran won’t accomplish. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Laura Bullard and Denise Guerra, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd ... Show More

<p>Historian and podcaster Afshon Ostovar joins New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the ideology and strategy of Iran, its recent conflict with Israel and what the future might hold for the Islamic Republic.</p> <p>Produced by Finbar Anderson</p> 

Just weeks before war erupted between Israel and Iran, journalist Max Blumenthal and Ahmad Hussam traveled to Tehran. In this exclusive podcast episode, they reflect on what they witnessed, how the political atmosphere felt on the ground, and what the West gets wrong about Iran.T ... Show More