Podcast appearances and mentions of mohammad marandi

Katie is joined by Dr. Mohammad Marandi, professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran to talk about the Iran, Israel, Resistance, media bias and more. Then Katie talks to Mouin Rabbani about Palestine. For the full discussion, please join us on Patreon at - https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon-full-dr-131864383 Note: This broadcast was recorded Thursday July 19th, 2025 **Please support The Katie Halper Show ** For bonus content, exclusive interviews, to support independent media & to help make this program possible, please join us on Patreon - / thekatiehalpershow Get your Katie Halper Show Merch here! https://katiehalper.myspreadshop.com/all Follow Katie on Twitter: https://x.com/kthalps Follow Katie on Instagram / kthalps

During a recent interview host Tucker Carlson questioned Ted Cruz about U.S. policy toward Iran, pressing him on his lack of basic knowledge about the country while accusing him of advocating reckless military intervention. Cruz awkwardly admits he doesn't know Iran's population, despite calling for regime change, and the exchange becomes increasingly combative as Carlson challenged the Texas senator's credibility.  Guest hosts Russell Dobular and Keaton Weiss of the Due Dissidence show note that Carlson gets Cruz to reveal that the U.S. is already backing Israeli strikes against Iran—contradicting official government statements. The hosts argue the push for war is being driven by pro-Israel influence and propaganda, echoing the prelude to the Iraq War. They also urge viewers, especially Trump supporters, to withhold all political support if Trump endorses military action, emphasizing the catastrophic consequences of war with Iran. Plus segments on the likely consequences of war between the United States and Iran with Iranian professor Mohammad Marandi and the most common responses trauma surgeon Dr. Feroze Sidhwa receives when he tells people about working in a Gaza hospital.

[SPECIAL] Prof. Seyed Mohammad Marandi :The View From Tehran!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If the UN's experts are correct, Iran is - or was - three days away from enriching enough uranium to build an atomic bomb, supporting Netanyahu's claim that they're months, not years, from nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the IAEA says the IDF is exaggerating the damage it has done to Iran's nuclear facilities.Most of the allies who are furious with Israel's increasingly brutal war in Gaza are in lock step with Netanyahu on Iran. But that doesn't mean there is any public support for being dragged into a full-scale war. Piers Morgan discusses the latest developments with Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, before assembling a panel comprising of Times columnist Matthew Syed, founder and CEO of ‘The Young Turks' Cenk Uygur, co-host of ‘The Verdict with Ted Cruz' Ben Ferguson and Senior Editor at ‘Human Events'Jack Posobiec. Plus, Piers speaks with Iranian professor and regime supporter Mohammad Marandi and Editor-in-Chief at Zeteo News, Mehdi Hasan. Piers Morgan Uncensored is proudly independent and supported by: Ridge Wallet: Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code PIERS at https://www.Ridge.com/PIERS #Ridgepod Tax Network USA: Call 1-800-958-1000 or visit https://TNUSA.com/PIERS to meet with a strategist today for FREE Beam: Visit https://shopbeam.com/PIERS and use code PIERS to get our exclusive discount of up to 30% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SPECIAL EARLY EPISODE: Glenn discusses the U.S. involvement in Israel's attack on Iran. Plus: Prof. Mohammad Marandi on the local reactions from Tehran. Finally: Jon Hoffman and Justin Logan from the CATO Institute on the implications for foreign policy and the dangers of a wider war.  ----------------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on Rumble, streamed LIVE 7pm ET. Become part of our Locals community Follow System Update:  Twitter Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn  

Donald Trump says the US will hold direct talks with Iran on Saturday over an end to its nuclear program - and the consequences of not making a deal could be deadly. The President's shock announcement came after weeks of speculation about a US or Israeli attack - and the aging Ayatollah has put Iran's military on its highest level of alert. The US has also been pounding the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, plus Trump shared a video of a drone strike with the words: “Oops. There will be no attack by these Houthis.” Tucker Carlson said “nothing would be more destructive to our country” and that a war on Iran would be “suicidal.” Is he right? To debate Piers Morgan invites Iranian academic Mohammad Marandi, host of the ‘Scott Horton Show' Scott Horton and co-host of ‘The Verdict with Ted Cruz' Ben Ferguson - plus he also speaks to ex CIA director and former US defense secretary Leon Panetta and British-Iranian lawyer and activist Elica Lebon. Uncensored is proudly independent and supported by: American Hartford Gold: Protect your wealth with precious metals! Call American Hartford Gold today & get up to $15,000 in free silver on your 1st order! Call 866-692-2474 or Text PIERS to 65532, or go to this link: https://offers.americanhartfordgold.com/piers-morgan/ Home Title Lock: Go to https://www.hometitlelock.com/piersmorgan and use promo code PIERS to get a FREE title history report so you can find out if you're already a victim AND access to your Personal Title Expert - a $250 value - when you sign up! Jacked Up Fitness: Go to https://GetJackedUp.com and use code PIERS at checkout to save 10% off your entire purchase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen in as we discuss what the future holds for the Arab-Iranian region with Professor Marandi   Mohammad Marandi (Persian: سید محمد مرندی; born 1966 in Richmond, Virginia) is an Iranian-American academic and political analyst.    I.G. @TheGambian Twitter: @MomodouTaal @CTayJ @s_m_marandi    

Did Israel and the United States win the Syria war? What about NATO member Turkey? Were Iran and the Axis of Resistance defeated? Political economist Radhika Desai discusses with Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za2HfCFbHt8 This is part of the show Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the program here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

Over the past 12 months, the status quo in the Middle East has been utterly destroyed, and a new, more dangerous situation on the ground has emerged. While bullets fly and bombs drop, the state that has consistently made gains has been Israel, no doubt due to its support from the West. The Jewish state has seen its enemies in Palestine and Syria evaporate, while simultaneously weakening Iran. This begs the question, has Israel basically won?To discuss the continuing conflicts and the future of the region, Piers Morgan engages with a plethora of minds keenly focused on the subject of Israel. These are General Secretary and co-founder of the Palestinian National Initiative Mustafa Barghouti, former IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus, co-host of the ‘Useful Idiots' podcast Aaron Maté, Iranian academic Mohammad Marandi and father of former Hamas hostage Emily Hand, Thomas Hand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the SUNDAY WIRE broadcasts on Alternate Current Radio, as host Patrick Henningsen welcomes special guest, Middle East affairs commentator from the University of Tehran, Dr Seyed Mohammad Marandi, to discuss the historic events in Syria over the last two weeks, and the new al-Qaeda occupied self-styled ‘caliphate' and its partnership with the regime in neighboring Israel. Later in the overdrive segment, we're be joined by independent journalist and media analyst James Li, for reactions on the Trump transition, Candace Owens coverage of the USS Liberty, CNN's latest fake news shenanigans in Syria, the mysterious death of Open AI whistleblower, and more. All this and more… Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu3vrotz_GI  This month's featured music artists: Red Rumble, Peter Conway, Joseph Arthur, Walk-On Army, Permanent Wave & Utility SUPPORT OUR MEDIA OUTLET HERE (https://21w.co/support)

Israel attacked Iran and said its objectives have been achieved. Its military said the strikes were precise and warned Tehran against further escalation. But what if Iran responds? And could the two sides be on a path to a full-blown confrontation? In this episode: Yossi Beilin, Former Israeli Minister of Justice. Mohammad Marandi, Professor, American Studies, University of Tehran.   Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Professor, Modern Middle East Politics, University of Cambridge. Host: Cyril Vanier Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!

Israel is weighing up its response to Iran's ballistic missile attack. The defence minister says it will be painful, precise and surprising. Does that mean Israel will hit Iran's nuclear facilities? And what would the fallout be across the region? In this episode: Mohammad Marandi, Professor at the University of Tehran. Gideon Levy, columnist at Haaretz newspaper and author of the book, 'The Punishment of Gaza'. Randa Slim, Director of the Conflict Resolution and Track 2 Dialogues Program at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC. Host: Hashem Ahelbarra Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!

Regional war in the Middle East is rapidly expanding while Kamala Harris stated that Iran is the number one adversary of the United States and Donald Trump announced that he was ready to obliterate Iranian cities. Brian is joined by Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies who teaches at the University of Tehran. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join and submit questions to the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

After firing nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, Iran warns the U.S. of further action unless Israel's aggression is curbed. The world waits to see what Israel will do next, as it continues bombing Gaza and Lebanon. Can peace prevail - or is a wider war more likely? In this episode: Mohammad Marandi, Professor of American Studies at the University of Tehran. Gideon Levy, Columnist at Haaretz newspaper and author of the book, 'The Punishment of Gaza'. Thomas Pickering, Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Israel, Jordan and Russia Host: Hashem Ahelbarra Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!

Israel's retaliation to the ongoing attacks from Hezbollah were obviously expected, but the scale of the destruction of their rocket-firing foe has fuelled the ongoing debate on proportional response. Israel's pager attack took everyone by surprise, and over the last 48 hours, almost the entire command structure of Hezbollah have been killed; including Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Now, Israel is apparently planning a ‘limited incursion' into southern Lebanon, and the collateral suffering of the civilian population doesn't seem likely to dissuade them.To analyse this expanding conflict, Piers Morgan talks to the ex–Palestinian militant who defected to Israel, Mosab Hasan Yousef, Palestinian-American Middle East analyst Omar Baddar and professor at the University of Tehran, Mohammad Marandi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hezbollah launches hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel - after it targeted the group in southern Lebanon. Both sides say more will follow. How significant are these cross-border attacks? And is there a risk of a wider regional conflict? In this episode: Hala Jaber, Author, 'Hezbollah: Born with a Vengeance'. Nicholas Noe, Political Adviser.  Mohammad Marandi, Professor, University of Tehran. Host: Sami Zeidan Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Will the Middle East erupt into a widespread, large-scale regional war after the Israeli government assassinated senior leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah? Brian is joined by Mohammad Marandi to get insight into what's happening in Tehran. He is an expert on American studies and teaches at the University of Tehran. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join and submit questions to the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

Iran's Impending Retaliation - Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen

What's the fallout from the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran? Hamas' political leader was assassinated as tensions in the Middle East are running high. How much of a blow is this to Hamas - and Iran? And could Haniyeh's death escalate into a full regional conflict? In this episode: Mohammad Marandi, Professor, University of Tehran. Sultan Barakat, Professor of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha. Maha Yahya, Director, Malcolm H Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center. Host: Dareen Abughaida Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

On the 19th of May, a military helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, crashed near Varzaqan, Iran killing everyone onboard. The world has been shocked by what Raisi's death could mean for the country and the region. Piers Morgan speaks to University of Tehran Professor, Mohammad Marandi, who furiously defends Raisi as a popular figure and calls out the hypocrisy of western governments. Piers' in-studio guest, IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus retorts that “The Butcher of Tehran is a good description” for Raisi, and claims that the Islamic regime in Iran is the source of terrorism all around the world.Mustafa Bargouti reacts to Jonathan Conricus' discussion with Piers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A tragic twist of fate for Iran. President Ebrahim Raisi killed in a helicopter crash, at a time of rising tension in the region and domestic anger over an economic crisis. So, what does the death of a man, widely thought to have become the next supreme leader, mean for Iran? In this episode: Mohammad Marandi, Professor, University of Tehran.  Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Professor, University of Cambridge. Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.  Host: Dareen Abughaida Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Iran and Israel at war? - Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen

Iran has shot down Israeli drones in the latest confrontation, igniting global calls for restraint. Both east and west are fearful of what more conflict could mean for the region and the world. So, what are Iran and Israel thinking? And what's next? In this episode: Mohammad Marandi, Dean of Faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran. Gideon Levy, Columnist for the Haaretz Newspaper. Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Professor of Modern Middle East Politics at the University of Cambridge. Host: Elizabeth Puranam Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian & Nicole discuss the danger of a regional war in the Middle East, U.S. crackdown on supporters of Palestine, China's proposal to the US to commit to no nuclear first strikes, a class analysis of modern U.S. society, and more. Links referenced during the seminar: Video show with Mohammad Marandi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdCyssFsWsc Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/posts/iran-doesnt-want-102492180 Petition to reinstate Professor Jodi Dean: https://www.change.org/p/revoke-professor-jodi-dean-s-suspension-from-teaching-at-hobart-and-william-smith-colleges Jodi's article: https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/news/palestine-speaks-for-everyone

The general view in the West is that Iran's attack on Israel was an abject failure.Whether or not it was a genuine attempt to wound the Israeli state or just a billion-dollar fireworks display, it didn't work.Ninety-nine per cent of the drones and missiles were shot down by Israel's allies and its Iron Dome.Israel looks tough again. Iran looks weak.With a view from Tehran, Professor Mohammad Marandi joins Piers to give his perspective.That's followed by a debate with the Current Deputy Mayor for Jerusalem and Special Envoy for the Foreign Ministry for Israel, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum. Founder and Leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, Mustafa Barghouti And for a US perspective, commentator and podcast host, Francesca Fiorentini.YouTube: @PiersMorganUncensoredX: @PiersUncensoredTikTok: @piersmorganuncensoredInsta: @piersmorganuncensored Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is Iran's military and political strategy now that it has struck back against Israel's illegal bombing of its embassy, and with another cycle of escalation looming? Israel's strikes killed over a dozen people, including two Iranian generals, while Iran's response produced no casualties. Why is Israel escalating? What does global public opinion look like towards the U.S. Empire on one side and the “Axis of Resistance” on the other? What consequences could the U.S. face in the region if Israel strikes again? Brian Becker is joined by Prof. Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies and postcolonial literature who teaches at the University of Tehran. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

Opening remarks and videos of Iran's military action (00:23); Dr. Mohammad Marandi analyzes Iran's retaliation and broader regional implications (14:15); Group discussion (55:26).

For the first time ever, a direct Iranian attack on Israel - a barrage of drones and missiles fired in retaliation for a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria. Most were shot down, but the world watches with deepening concern. Who'll be saying what to whom to try to bring calm? In this episode: Mohammad Marandi, Professor, University of Tehran. Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Chatham House. Akbar Shahid Ahmed, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent, Huffpost.  Host: James Bays Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Iranian academic and analyst Mohammad Marandi joins Max Blumenthal and Aaron Mate live to discuss the repercussions of Israel's brazen attack on Iran's embassy in Syria. How will Iran respond? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read TheGrayzone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram

Iranians are choosing a new legislature, and many hope it will pave the way for reform. But with a strict vetting system and anti-establishment candidates barred from running, is change possible in the Islamic Republic? What role does parliament actually play?  In this episode: Mohammad Marandi, Professor at the University of Tehran and and Iranian political analyst. Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Professor of International Relations and Modern Middle East Politics at the University of Cambridge. Adnan Tabatabai, Iranian affairs analyst and chief executive of CARPO, a think tank focused on the Middle East. Host: Hashem Ahelbarra  Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

How far will the U.S. go in attacking Iran-linked targets in the Middle East? Washington has carried out strikes against pro-Iran armed groups in Syria and Iraq. They're a retaliation for drone attacks last week in Jordan. So could this spillover into a wider conflict? In this episode:  Mohammad Marandi, Head of American Studies, University of Tehran. Renad Mansour, Director, Iraq Initiative, Chatham House. Lawrence Korb, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress. Host: Adrian Finighan Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

This week the SUNDAY WIRE broadcasts LIVE on Alternate Current Radio, as host Patrick Henningsen covers the top stories internationally. In the first hour we connect with international relations scholar Dr Mohammad Marandi for a conversation on Israel's ongoing genocide of the natiove Palestinian people in Gaza, and how this has accelerated the emergence of a New Middle East, underpinned by a new security paradigm formed through the Axis of Resistance against US-led and Zionist colonial imperialism in the region.  against Israeli interests over the genocide in Gaza and the subsequent US reaction, as well as the position of the Axis of Resistance in relation to Israeli and US aggression in the region. In the final segment we'll connect with our producer and ACR colleague, Bryan ‘Hesher' McClain and Basil Valentine for overdrive and an update on the 2024 US elections. All this and much more. Watch this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9h_3CQCzRc  Show Links: https://alternatecurrentradio.com/home https://twitter.com/21wire https://twitter.com/s_m_marandi  https://tntradio.live/shows/state-of-the-nation/  http://www.x.com/says_basil This month's featured music artists: Joseph Arthur, Peter Conway, Walk-On Army, Permanent Wave & Utility Get New Dawn Magazine January-February 2024 Issue: https://21w.co/nd202 SUPPORT OUR MEDIA OUTLET HERE (https://21w.co/support) OR JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY @21WIRE.TV (https://21wire.tv/membership/plans/)

Pakistan has carried out strikes inside Iran, which it says is in retaliation to attacks by Tehran inside its country. Both nations say they're targeting separatist armed groups. But what might the consequences be? And can they be contained? HOST: Elizabeth Puranam GUESTS: Ahmed Rashid, Expert on armed groups in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Maleeha Lodhi, Veteran diplomat and columnist for the Dawn newspaper and website. Mohammad Marandi, Professor of the University of Tehran. Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Stephen Sackur speaks to Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian academic who has advised his government during nuclear negotiations. Iran actively backs Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, but as the flashpoints in the Middle East multiply, is a regional war - with the US inevitably engaged - what Tehran really wants?

Prof. Marandi of the University of Tehran says Israel can't win a wider war against Lebanon and Iran. But these countries will have to respond to the recent terror attacks—and Israel's war against Palestine may expand into a regional conflict nonetheless. Israel bombed Lebanon, assassinating senior Hamas political leader Saleh al-Arouri, followed by a series of explosions at the memorial service for Iranian General Qaseem Solemani, which killed over 100 people. Will the war widen? Will the U.S. ever pull back from its support for the genocidal Israeli regime? Brian Becker is joined by Prof. Mohammad Marandi. He is an expert on American studies and postcolonial literature who teaches at the University of Tehran. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

Iran in a Changing World - Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Alexander Mercouris and Glenn Diesen

https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/587426-west-unwilling-call-out-israel-war/ The West likes to take pride in its achievements – like the importance of international law. It demands the rest of the world follow its lead. But the world is in shock over the West's unwillingness to criticize and call out Israel's war on Gaza. This is the absence of morality. CrossTalking with Matthew Ehret and Mohammad Marandi. #2023 #art #music #movies #poetry #poem #food #photooftheday #volcano #news #weather #monkeys #climate #horse #puppy #fyp #love #instagood #onelove #eyes #getyoked #horsie #gotmilk #book #shecomin #getready

Political analyst Prof Mohammad Marandi on the escalating Gaza crisis by Radio Islam

The historic deal brokered by China for a Saudi-Iran rapprochement reflects not only a changing region, but a shifting world order. While the US focuses on its proxy war in Ukraine, with US officials essentially blocking meaningful peace discussion both there and in Yemen, its “strategic competitor” China now looks like the adult in the room. Its diplomatic initiatives have become a force for stability in the biggest conflict regions, from Yemen to Syria. To better understand what's going on and what we can expect, Rania Khalek was joined by Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, Iran. This is just the first half of this episode with Professor Marandi. The second half is available for Breakthrough News Members only. Become a member at Patreon.com/BreakthroughNews to access the full episode and other exclusive content. 

Iran's protests have been more enduring than previous waves. Some call it a CIA-backed color revolution while others say it is a popular movement. There have been significant incidents of armed violence. And there is no doubt that Iran's enemies will take advantage of any sign of weakness as they do in all countries deemed rogue. To better understand what's going on and what we can expect, Rania Khalek was joined by Mohammad Marandi, professor of english literature and orientalism at the University of Tehran.Listen to every episode of Rania Khalek Dispatches anywhere you get podcasts.Apple: https://apple.co/3zeYpeW Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3za9DRK

Iran has been gripped by demonstrations and violent crackdowns sparked by the death of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini. But is Iran's government listening? DW's Conflict Zone spoke to Mohammad Marandi, professor at Tehran University.

It's nearly one month since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being hauled in by Iran's morality police, and protesters are still in the streets. It's the biggest threat to the regime in many years. At the frontlines are women and even schoolgirls fighting for freedom and defying strict laws on the wearing of the hijab. But these protests are also about the dire economic reality facing the country. CNN International Correspondent Jomana Karadsheh joins the show, followed by University of Tehran professor Mohammad Marandi.  Also on today's show: photographer Tyler Mitchell; Harvard Law School professor Noah Feldman; Angela Lansbury from the archives.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Iran nuclear deal negotiations appear frozen and the Biden administration is busy pouring fuel onto the Ukrainian fire and trying to encircle China. To help us understand why attempts to salvage an agreement with Iran have not succeeded, Rania Khalek was joined by Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and orientalism at the University of Tehran. Prof. Marandi also speaks about recent events in the region.TIME CODES0:00 Intro1:56 Why is there no agreement yet? Who's at fault?11:55 Western dishonesty18:34 What do the Europeans want?22:56 Did Russia obstruct an agreement?28:12 American sanctions 31:23 What's wrong with Biden's negotiating team? What do the Americans want?36:27 An escalatory cycle? 41:56 Yemen, Syria, Palestine45:50 Saudi-Iranian talks58:42 Increased cooperation between UAE & Iran1:04:33 America is starving Afghanistan1:11:58 Assassination of IRGC officer in Tehran (we recorded this before the Israelis took credit)1:22:23 The PKK in the region

Dr. Kenneth Surin, Professor Emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University, joins Michelle and John at the top of the show to discuss today's diplomatic meetings set to ease tensions in Ukraine involving French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House. Next, Bill Mew, leading digital ethics campaigner and CEO of cyber incident firm The Crisis Team, joins to discuss the proposed digital dollar. Why now? Why would the US need a digital dollar with so many digital currency options on the market, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum? A digital dollar that functions over an app could bring competition for banks that offer bank account transaction services and debit cards, according to Mew.With talks between the United States and Iran on the JCPOA in their final phase, the US announced that it would restore sanctions waivers that would allow Russian, Chinese, and European companies to do nonproliferation work that would make it more difficult for Iran to use its nuclear sites for weapons development. Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins Michelle and John to talk about the possible outcomes from the negotiations. For the last segment, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor of public health at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, joins the Misfits to talk about Covid restrictions in light of new data indicating a fall in infection rates while hospital ICUs remain at capacity. The Misfits sign off till Wednesday. Join us then to go against the grain, and keep organizing!

International affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda joins Misfit hosts John Kiriakou and Michelle Witte to discuss the newfound “unity” US President Joe Biden has supposedly achieved among European powers in facing down Russia. Mohammad Marandi, professor of English Literature and Orientalism at University of Tehran, updates us on the status of talks between Iran and Western powers on the country's nuclear program, and identifies the stumbling blocks in the way of any new accord. Author and journalist Dan Lazare breaks down the shambolic reaction of the US legal system to mask mandates and asks how much former President Donald Trump should fear the investigation into his election pressure in Georgia. He also outlines the affirmative action cases soon to be heading to the Supreme Court. Paul Wright, executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center and editor of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News magazines, discusses the punitive use of solitary confinement and “communication management” in prisons, and talks about what it would take to reform the Bureau of Prisons.

HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur speaks to the adviser to Iran's negotiators in Vienna Mohammad Marandi. Time is running out for negotiators trying to break the impasse between the United States and Iran and revive the deal curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Iran is still enriching uranium, the Biden administration is talking of giving up on the current diplomatic track. If a nuclear deal can't be done how real is the danger of a catastrophic war in the Middle East?

Mnar Adley, founder and editor at MintPress News, joins us to discuss Iran. We discuss the history of General Soleimani and the West's propaganda after his death. Also, The US position on reentry into the nuclear deal makes it impossible to agree.

World leaders have descended upon Austrian capital Vienna to participate in the ongoing nuclear deal being negotiated primarily between the United States and Iran. Today, MintPress spoke to Dr. Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran. Dr. Marandi is currently in Vienna as part of the Iranian delegation.While corporate media often portray Iran as a recalcitrant pariah and the United States as a long-suffering broker in the situation, Dr. Marandi notes that it was actually the Trump administration that unilaterally walked away from the agreement. Furthermore, President Barack Obama refused to live up to his promise to remove financial sanctions against Iran. “Obama, from the very beginning, was violating the deal, the most important element of the deal, because the banking sector sanctions are the most important part of the deal,” Marandi told Mnar Adley today.Relations between the two countries fell to a new low two years ago this month, after the Trump administration carried out a successful drone strike against General and statesman Qassem Soleimani. While then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that Soleimani was on the verge of carrying out an attack on Americans, the Iranian leader was, in fact, in Iraq on the invitation of Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi. Abdul-Mahdi specifically asked Trump for permission to invite Soleimani to his country. Trump acquiesced, then used the opportunity to kill him via a drone strike.In response, the Iraqi parliament passed a unanimous resolution on January 5 (with many abstentions), calling for the expulsion of all U.S. troops. Instead, the U.S. announced it would build a number of new bases on the Iranian border, ramping up the tensions. Since then, Washington has continued to pile on the pressure, increasing its deadly sanctions regime against the country. Soleimani was best known and celebrated outside of Iran for leading the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, successfully crippling their forces. The Financial Times described him as the “hero” who saved the region from Jihadists. Yet Western media largely sided with the U.S. after Trump's decision to kill him. Suddenly, Soleimani was no longer a hero, but “the world's no. 1 bad guy,” as CNBC put it.The discussion also encompassed the sanctions placed on Iran by the United States and how Iran has partnered with Venezuela and other countries to help them neutralize the worst effects of economic warfare.MintPress News is a fiercely independent, reader-supported outlet, with no billionaire owners or backers. You can support us by becoming a member on Patreon, bookmarking and whitelisting us, and by subscribing to our social media channels, including Twitch, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.Subscribe to MintCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and SoundCloud.Support the show (https://www.mintpressnews.com/donations/)

In 2018, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran, but if you follow mainstream media you'd think Iran was responsible for the deal's collapse. In the recent seventh round of negotiations to restore the deal, the U.S. government added new sanctions on Iran while Biden was urged to “restore Iran's fear” with military build-ups. Meanwhile, Israel continues to threaten war.But how do Iranians see all this? Here to explain is Prof. Mohammad Marandi, an advisor to the Iranian negotiating team in Vienna and a Professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran.

At the Vienna talks on restoring the Iran nuclear deal, the US and EU are accusing Iran of refusing to compromise. Mohammad Marandi, a University of Tehran professor advising the Iran delegation in Vienna, says that the compromise was the nuclear deal itself, and the problem is the US refusal to abide by its own commitments and lift the sanctions that target Iranian civilians. Guest: Mohammad Marandi. Professor at the University of Tehran and adviser to the Iran delegation at talks on restoring the JCPOA in Vienna. Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate

Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins us to talk about the ongoing negotiations in Vienna revolving around reviving the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal with diplomats from Iran and the JCPOA countries of China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom. We talk about the U.S. presence in the meeting, which is negotiating “indirectly,” what influence it could have with other actors in the negotiations, and how its refusal to return to the terms of the deal it signed and then reneged on is the main obstacle to overcoming this impasse. Angela Arias Zapata, educator, researcher, and PhD candidate in media, culture, and communication at New York University, joins us to talk about the news that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is being removed from the U.S. terror list after having signed a peace agreement years ago and becoming a political party. We talk about the difficulties in reintegrating its members into civic society after a right wing government rose to power, which has put roadblocks to the implementation of the peace deal, and how this move by the U.S. could signal better fortunes for their political party.Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," joins the Misfits to talk about the Pentagon once again going to investigate an airstrike in Syria in 2019 that killed dozens of women and children, whether anything will come out of it, reports of decreasing drone strikes in the region and whether this is a positive trend that will continue, as well as the Supreme Court hearing the Mississippi abortion case that could set a precedent for reproductive rights in the U.S. Femi Ayanbadejo, certified nutritionist, human performance expert, NASA technology transfer partner, and founder and CEO of HealthReel, talks to us about MLB using both juiced and de-juiced balls in the 2021 season, and a likely lockout after the collective bargaining agreement between the Major League Players Association and MLB expires today.

Watch the video version on BreakThrough News here: https://youtu.be/WUHHe6h8iXk What could be the final effort to resuscitate the Iran nuclear deal will begin this month with negotiators meeting in Vienna. The United States, having violated and destroyed the deal under Trump, is now pushing for new concessions from Iran. This kind of arrogance is nothing new -- it has been the defining feature of U.S. government policy towards Iran going back to the 1953 CIA-sponsored coup and through the 1979 revolution that overthrew the U.S. puppet monarchy. Brian is joined by Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies and postcolonial literature who teaches at the University of Tehran. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

Bob Schlehuber, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the situation in Ethiopia, where Western media has been presenting a completely different picture of the conflict that generally favors the TPLF narrative and contrasts with on-the-ground reports. He tells us about the experiences of having conversations about the future of the country with Ethiopian citizens, how this conflict could decide the future of the horn of Africa, and how a peaceful solution to the conflict should be the main goal of potential future negotiations. Wyatt Reed, Radio Sputnik correspondent, tells us about the elections that took place in Nicaragua on Sunday, where the incumbent Daniel Ortega emerged victorious, and how despite proof of transparency in the elections, mainstream Western media outlets keep describing the vote as a sham. We also talk about the White House statement on the election, and whether this signals that the U.S. will take an even harsher line against Nicaragua and expand its sanctions. Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, talks to us about growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, and an incident last week where Iran alleged that the U.S. tried to seize an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, which elicited a rebuke from the U.S. denying such actions, and reports that the tanker in this incident may have transporting oil to Venezuela. We also talk about reports of a drone attack on the residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi, and what this means for the current power struggle in Iraq. Dan Lazare, journalist and writer, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Austin Pelli to discuss the messy negotiations over the infrastructure bill, where the slimmed down bipartisan version passed on Friday, and whether this means that the more ambitious Build Back Better Plan could be permanently shelved. We also talk about COP26 and how people are growing more impatient and skeptical that promises made there will be followed through, and what it would take to enact meaningful climate legislation.

Howie Hawkins, 2020 Green Party presidential candidate, trade unionist, and activist, joins us to talk about Biden's incredible shrinking infrastructure bill, which is now being referred to as a “framework” after popular proposals like paid family leave, lowering prescription drug prices, an expansion for Medicare, and others, have been dropped after infighting within the Democratic Party. We talk about how the Democrats seem to be unable to govern and enact policies for the people even after controlling the White House and Congress, and the potential political fallout due to this inertia. Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins us to talk about Iran's top negotiator announcing that Iran would rejoin international talks on its nuclear program, whether the U.S. will join Iran and Europe at the negotiating table, considering its long-standing belligerent tone and long standing position of trying to isolate Iran through international forums and sanctions. We also talk about how the U.S. global sanctions regime could become so large that it would actually force its enemies to interact more and more, and how Iran is reaching out to potential allies to stave off its crippling effects.Afeni, member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist-in-training, and Jacqui Luqman, co-host of By Any Means Necessary on Radio Sputnik, join us to talk about the protests by students at Howard University in DC to highlight the housing conditions on campus, how the administration has failed to provide the necessary resources for students, and how these protests are bringing to light the class issues within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).Kevin Gosztola, journalist, writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins us to talk about the U.S. appeal in London over the extradition of Julian Assange, arguing that he will be treated fairly in the U.S., and how the treatment of whistleblowers by the U.S. undermines their case for extradition. We also talk about the protests in support of Assange, and whether recent revelations of U.S potential actions against Assange will have any effect on judges' decisions.

Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, joins us to talk about the obstacles for the U.S. and Iran entering into negotiations to revive the nuclear deal, President Biden hinting at the possibility of restarting talks, how the U.S. is putting the onus of responsibility on Iran despite the fact that Iran followed the letter of the deal even after the U.S. balked, how Iran's new president could negotiate with the U.S., and what impact the withdrawal from Afghanistan could have in the relations between the two countries.Garland Nixon, co-host of The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik and host of News Views with Garland Nixon on WPFW, talks to us about civil asset forfeiture and how this enables law enforcement to basically steal property from citizens in this country to the tune of $68.8 billion since the year 2000. We also talk about how, in many cases, these seizures are not related to any criminal activity, and how they have also become a roundabout way to fund law enforcement departments, which in turn encourages the continuation of these practices. Afeni, member of Freedom Fighters DC and abolitionist in training, and Jamal Muhammad, host of the Luv Lounge radio show and the Old School Lunch Bag Mix on Square 1 radio, talks to us about the nonstop coverage of the tragic death of Gabby Petito, why it has garnered national attention, and how black and brown victims in similar cases do not receive the same coverage. We also talk about the importance of protecting public spaces in cities, and how gentrification can imperil spaces for civic connection between its citizens. Dr. Gene Olinger, professor at Boston University, principal science advisor for MRI Global Inc., and a recipient of the NIH Director Award, talks to us about the deliberations between agencies and the public regarding vaccines and booster shots, how the messaging and policies have not been entirely clear, the decision to authorize shots for people 65 and over, and predictions that the pandemic could be over by next year.

All eyes are on Afghanistan as the Taliban has rapidly taken over the entire country. Most coverage is focused on what this means for the US. But in reality, the West is removed and distant, Iran, on the other hand, is Afghanistan's neighbor and hosts about 2 million official or unofficial Afghan refugees and will likely absorb even more. Iran had a bad relationship with the Taliban in the 90s, which killed its diplomat. Iran now has to deal with this new reality on its border.To discuss this and other developments in and around Iran, including sanctions, covid, nuclear deal negotiations, and talks with Saudi Arabia, Rania Khalek, was joined by Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and orientalism at the University of Tehran.

Welcome to a MOATS Special on Iran GG is joined on Moats by Professor of English Literature and Orientalism, University of Tehran Seyed Mohammad Marandi. Professor Marandi is an Iranian-American and is an academic and political analyst. His academic programme is designed to educate the Iranian people on US culture and American studies in a hope to build a peaceful relationship between Iran and the US people. This week he is in discussion with GG regarding the threat of war from Israel as the war of words threatens to spill over into conflict and finally, War. What is the situation between the two nations, what is the cultural history between the them and why could it all come down to the idea of the legacy of arrogance? All these questions and more are answered right here on the Mother of all Talk shows! Listen to "The Mother of all Talk Shows with George Galloway" The Podcast every MONDAY as George speaks with the best journalists, political commentators and people across the globe to get to the bottom of what is truly happening in the world right now.  "The Mother of all Talk Shows" is broadcast live every Sunday 7pm GMT on Youtube and Sputnik Radio. MOATS is the open university of the airwaves to millions of people all over the world. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Authorities clamp down on patients and medical providers. How the ‘War on Drugs' approach to the opioid crisis will cause needless harm.Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, and Ali Al-Ahmed, Saudi scholar, writer, and expert on Saudi political affairs, join us to talk about the recent visit to the White House by Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister - and brother of the crown prince - Khalid bin Salman, how this may affect the reentry of the U.S. into the nuclear deal negotiations with Iran, and what this means for U.S. support for the Saudis in the war in Yemen. We also talk about the ongoing talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia and whether there will be a mend in the relations between the two countries. Yohana Beyene, member of the Black Alliance for Peace member organization Horn of Africa Pan-Africans for Liberation and Solidarity, joins us to talk about the ongoing crisis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, what is being done to provide aid in the growing humanitarian crisis there, and the obstacles faced. We also talk about whether there will be a de-escalation in violence after the unilateral ceasefire by the Ethiopian government. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, talks to us about the opioid crisis, the way victims of the crisis and medical providers are being policed, how perpetrators in Big Pharma are generally being allowed to go unpunished, and how these policies lead to unnecessary deaths. Dr. Jack Rasmus, economist, radio show host & author of “The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump,” talks to us about how healthy the economy actually is, what we can expect some of the political fallout to be if things peter out, rising prices for all commodities, and we take a look at our history to figure out how we got to this state in the first place.Freddy Martínez, Director of Lucy Parsons Lab, talks to us about the expansion of surveillance and data collection, particularly by financial companies and how they target children by marketing debit card apps. We also talk about how 20 federal agencies have worked with facial recognition technology, but 13 of those 20 couldn't say exactly what systems they had used.

Breakthrough's Rania Khalek was joined by Professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran Mohammad Marandi on her program Dispatches to discuss the results of the Iranian presidential election and some of the simplistic and misleading media portrayals of Iran that have come with that coverage.

John Kiriakou, co-host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about the news that Roger Stone is reportedly under federal investigation on his role in planning the January 6 insurrection, how investigators are looking into what role Stone may have played in radicalizing Trump supporters who joined the assault on the U.S. Capitol, and whether the video evidence presented thus far in the media is sufficient to mount a case against him. Mohammad Marandi, Professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, tells us about the results of the elections in Iran where Ebrahim Raisi emerged victorious over the weekend, how the media is reporting about a hardliner victory and whether this analysis is accurate, how the low voter turnout may have affected the results, the president's priorities for the country, the reaction by neighboring countries, and whether there will be any change in the relationship between Iran, Israel and the U.S. under Raisi's presidency. Terrence Collingsworth, executive director of International Rights Advocates and labor & human rights attorney specializing in trade and international labor rights issues, talks to us about a case against Apple, Tesla, Microsoft, and Dell that argues that the tech giants knowingly profit from the use of child labor in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where children have been maimed and even killed extracting the minerals in mines owned multinationals, whether the Alien Tort Statute will be used, as in the Nestlé/Cargill case, to try to connect abuses along the supply chain to top decision makers, and the role local and Western governments could play in exerting oversight of the way resource extraction is conducted.Tina-Desiree Berg, host of the podcast District 34 and reporter for Status Coup, joins us in a conversation about news reports coming out of Chicago about a rising crime wave in the city, and how this reporting is reproducing the “super predator” narrative and ignoring the structural components of violence and precarity. We also talk about the anti-homeless efforts by local governments around the country and how these have become even more militarized.

Journalist Aaron Mate and Professor Mohammad Marandi continue talking about the trip they took to Syria, after a decade of Western proxy war. We also discuss the OPCW cover-up of so-called "chemical attacks," as well as the role of Israel in the war, and Palestinian resistance to its brutal bombing and blockade of Gaza. We address the political situations in Iran and Nicaragua, and then respond to questions from our patrons over at Patreon.com/ModerateRebels. PART 2 OF 2 VIDEO: youtube.com/watch?v=g9iqWnpBFZk

We speak with journalist Aaron Mate and Professor Mohammad Marandi, who just took a trip to Syria to see the real-life impact on average people caused by the decade-long Western regime-change war and suffocating US/EU sanctions. PART 1 OF 2 Video: youtube.com/watch?v=g9iqWnpBFZk

Talks are underway in Vienna to save the JCPOA – the agreement the Trump administration unilaterally walked away from. Making the deal whole again is relatively easy for Iran. But that can’t be said for the US. Does the Biden administration have the political will to say ‘yes’ to Tehran? CrossTalking with Mohammad Marandi, Geoffrey Aronson, and Tariq Rauf.

Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, talks to us about the case of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who recently gave an interview with PBS and how leaders of terrorist groups are recruited and then rehabilitated by the U.S. foreign policy and defense interests to advance geopolitical goals, how this is not a new practice, how this way of thinking does not take into account the consequences of these actions for the countries involved and how media and ‘experts’ never challenge these plans and go along with the establishment. Adriana Garriga López, associate professor of anthropology at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and associate faculty of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, and Elda Guadalupe Carrasquillo, member of the organization “Colectivo somos más que 100 por 35,” join us in a conversation about the slow-going cleanup by the DoD of toxic materials in the islands of Vieques and Culebra off Puerto Rico, and how this is representative of long standing neglect by the local and federal government, and how communities can fight for change to improve their lives. Ron Placone, comedian and host of "Get Your News On With Ron," joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about Vice President Kamala Harris, dropping “truth bombs” about U.S. foreign policy and unwittingly revealing more about the mindset of fighting over resources, Biden’s infrastructure plan which may or may not end up completing Trump’s wall, and how the Democratic party is capable of playing hardball, but only with the left wing of the party. Antone Barnes, founder and CEO of Brand Architects, joins our Foul Play segment to talk about the conclusion of the NCAA basketball championships, the Supreme Court hearing of the case challenging the NCAA amateur model, MLB’s attempts at wokeness by moving the All-Star game from Atlanta after a restrictive voting law was passed there recently, and NFL vs. NBA contracts.The Misfits also talk about the anti-trans bill in Arkansas coming back to life after it was vetoed by the governor, and a fourth wave of COVID infections.

In this segment of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Dr. Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, to talk about why President Trump's new promise to "shoot down" Iranian naval vessels may be an empty threat intended to distract from his failed COVID-19 response, why such an escalation would almost certainly result in massive retaliation against the US military and its allied Gulf state monarchies, and how the Iranian healthcare sector has managed overcome the deadly American sanctions regime and offer a significantly more effective response to the coronavirus than the US.

What is the Iranians' response to criticisms from Trump over its missile testing, and is it fuelling terror and conflicts in the Middle East? Zeinab Badawi speaks to Iranian academic Mohammed Marandi from Tehran, a staunch supporter of the leadership in Iran. Amidst his pronouncements on foreign policy Donald Trump has ratcheted up the rhetoric on Iran, calling the nuclear agreement with Tehran the 'worst deal ever negotiated'. He's expanded US sanctions on Iran after it tested a missile in January.

Stephen Sackur talks to the political analysts Mohammad Marandi in Tehran and Jamal Khashoggi in Jeddah. Is there any way to take the heat out of the Saudi-Iranian confrontation?(Photo: Prof Mohammad Marandi, Univesity of Tehran (L) and Jamal Khashoggi, columnist and author)