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The day after the U.S. and Israel began the war with Iran, President Trump said the strikes would last four to five weeks. Now, as the war begins its fourth week, Iran's regime is severely weakened, but is still retaliating. Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses where the war goes from here with Michael Doran, Miad Maleki, Vali Nasr and Dana Stroul. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Headlines for March 19, 2026; “Iran Is Playing the Long Game”: Prof. Vali Nasr on What to Expect from Protracted War in Middle East; The End of the Petrodollar? How Iran War Is Reshaping the Global Economy: Author Laleh Khalili; From Epic Fury to Epstein Fury: Rep. Ro Khanna on the Betrayals of the Trump Administration
Headlines for March 19, 2026; “Iran Is Playing the Long Game”: Prof. Vali Nasr on What to Expect from Protracted War in Middle East; The End of the Petrodollar? How Iran War Is Reshaping the Global Economy: Author Laleh Khalili; From Epic Fury to Epstein Fury: Rep. Ro Khanna on the Betrayals of the Trump Administration
Subscribe now to listen to the entire 28-minute episode (or preview 7 minutes). Nearly three weeks into launching an unprovoked attack on Iran, whose supreme leader was assassinated in an Israeli air strike, it has become clear that President Trump and his national security team badly misjudged their enemy. The regime is surviving. And, according to expert Vali Nasr, Iran is transitioning to an IRGC-led state with even more uncompromising leadership. Unintended consequences were, therefore, inevitable because key U.S. decision-makers misunderstood Iran and ignored intelligence warnings about the unlikelihood of regime collapse. Vali Nasr teaches Middle East studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of "Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History."
The Trump administration miscalculated how Iran would respond to this war. And the United States, Iran and Israel were brought to the brink of war in the first place because of a whole series of misjudgments and miscalculations going back decades. Ali Vaez is the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group. He was involved in the negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear deal, and is in fact himself a nuclear scientist. He's also an author of “How Sanctions Work: Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare.” In this conversation, Vaez explains how over 47 years the United States, Israel and Iran came to one another as threats, and why so many efforts to thaw relations failed. It's the briefing on Iran that Trump should have received before he decided to go to war. Mentioned: How Sanctions Work by Narges Bajoghli, Vali Nasr, Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, and Ali Vaez Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Book Recommendations: Persians by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones The Mantle of the Prophet by Roy P. Mottahedeh Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs. This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Jack McCordick. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris with Kate Sinclair. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Isaac Jones and Aman Sahota. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Annie Galvin, Rollin Hu, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Aman Sahota and Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei — Iran's new Supreme Leader? Who was the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?In this episode of the Burn Bag Podcast, A'ndre Gonawela is joined by Vali Nasr, the Majid Khadduri Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS and one of the leading scholars of Iranian politics and Shia leadership structures.Nasr breaks down the power structure of the Islamic Republic following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the rise of his son Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new Supreme Leader. The leadership transition comes as the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to escalate, with Tehran threatening to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and expand attacks across the region.In this conversation, Nasr explains:Who Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was and how he shaped modern IranHow the Supreme Leader actually governs inside the Islamic RepublicThe role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran's power structureWhat Mojtaba Khamenei's leadership means for the regime and the warWho is making wartime decisions inside Iran right nowWhether the conflict represents an existential fight for the Islamic RepublicAs the war intensifies and global energy markets react to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, this episode provides a clear guide to how Iran's leadership thinks — and what it means for the future of the conflict.
Eleven days into the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, starting on Feb. 28, 2026, I speak with Vali Nasr, a renowned analyst of Iran. He's the author of several books dealing with Iran, including most recently Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History (Princeton University Press, 2025). Nasr was born in Tehran in 1960 and is currently a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In our talk, he discusses his surprise at the resilience the Iranian government has so far displayed in the war, as well as the high degree of advance planning the government performed in anticipation of the attack. Although many Iranians do not like the Islamic Republic, he told me, there is nevertheless a resurgent element of Iranian nationalism in Iranian society. The West, he believes, underestimates the cohesion of Iran. Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Paul Starobin is a former contributing editor of The Atlantic and a former Moscow bureau chief of Business Week. His companion Substack newsletter America and Beyond includes transcripts of podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Eleven days into the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, starting on Feb. 28, 2026, I speak with Vali Nasr, a renowned analyst of Iran. He's the author of several books dealing with Iran, including most recently Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History (Princeton University Press, 2025). Nasr was born in Tehran in 1960 and is currently a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In our talk, he discusses his surprise at the resilience the Iranian government has so far displayed in the war, as well as the high degree of advance planning the government performed in anticipation of the attack. Although many Iranians do not like the Islamic Republic, he told me, there is nevertheless a resurgent element of Iranian nationalism in Iranian society. The West, he believes, underestimates the cohesion of Iran. Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Paul Starobin is a former contributing editor of The Atlantic and a former Moscow bureau chief of Business Week. His companion Substack newsletter America and Beyond includes transcripts of podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history
Eleven days into the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, starting on Feb. 28, 2026, I speak with Vali Nasr, a renowned analyst of Iran. He's the author of several books dealing with Iran, including most recently Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History (Princeton University Press, 2025). Nasr was born in Tehran in 1960 and is currently a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In our talk, he discusses his surprise at the resilience the Iranian government has so far displayed in the war, as well as the high degree of advance planning the government performed in anticipation of the attack. Although many Iranians do not like the Islamic Republic, he told me, there is nevertheless a resurgent element of Iranian nationalism in Iranian society. The West, he believes, underestimates the cohesion of Iran. Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Paul Starobin is a former contributing editor of The Atlantic and a former Moscow bureau chief of Business Week. His companion Substack newsletter America and Beyond includes transcripts of podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies
Eleven days into the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, starting on Feb. 28, 2026, I speak with Vali Nasr, a renowned analyst of Iran. He's the author of several books dealing with Iran, including most recently Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History (Princeton University Press, 2025). Nasr was born in Tehran in 1960 and is currently a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In our talk, he discusses his surprise at the resilience the Iranian government has so far displayed in the war, as well as the high degree of advance planning the government performed in anticipation of the attack. Although many Iranians do not like the Islamic Republic, he told me, there is nevertheless a resurgent element of Iranian nationalism in Iranian society. The West, he believes, underestimates the cohesion of Iran. Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Paul Starobin is a former contributing editor of The Atlantic and a former Moscow bureau chief of Business Week. His companion Substack newsletter America and Beyond includes transcripts of podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs
It's becoming increasingly clear that Donald Trump has no real plan for the war on Iran. We speak to Middle East expert Vali Nasr on how Iran's response has surprised the world. Plus: Reform UK can't get its story straight, and Israel's propaganda machine has been unusually quiet. With Aaron Bastani & Kieran Andrieu.
01:00 Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History (2025), https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174561 11:20 Vali Nasr Exclusive: 'War is being waged ': Vali Nasr on Israel-US campaign against Iran 25:00 The First Gulf War, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174605 28:00 Understanding The Elite Frame On The Iran War, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174625 35:00 Mark Halperin: Trump's Iran Strategy Explained, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPUwk2I7hO8 40:00 Why Different Groups View The Iran War Differently, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174619 47:00 You Don't Win Wars Through Logic & Rhetoric, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174615 50:00 When American Presidents Tell You To Rise Up, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174612 53:00 Why do elites love the word ‘dialogue'?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174610 55:00 Does Iran need to unconditionally surrender 1:39:00 Richard Haass: ‘America chose this war — and must now choose how to end it', https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174601 1:46:00 Why do elites argue that Iran's war plans are super rational and coolly calculating while Trump's plans are impulsive and crazy? https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174592 1:59:00 Why Do Elites Love The Word ‘Fraught'?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174599 2:02:00 Why Do Elites Love The Word ‘Metastasized'?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174597 2:06:30 NYT: In War's First Week, a Punishing Military Campaign With No Coherent Endgame, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174581 2:28:00 Why Has Trump Gone To War With Iran? | Christiane Amanpour Presents, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CFVlQ8ftVo 2:30:00 Journos Take Public Pronouncements Too Seriously, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174460 2:31:00 When The Search For Meaning Leads To War, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174445 2:37:45 Decoding CNN's Christiane Amanpour, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174479 2:38:30 Richard Haass says Iran is not losing, https://politicalitems.substack.com/p/is-iran-not-losing 2:40:00 ‘The last thing the Middle East needed was another war', https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174458 2:43:00 Industrial Policy for the United States: Winning the Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries (2024), https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174500 2:47:00 Is It Truth Or BS?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174491 2:49:30 Decoding My Life, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=169794 2:53:00 Everything shocking and big requires fuel, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174472 2:56:00 Decoding Washington Post Columnist David Ignatius, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174429 3:11:00 Where Is The Expert Herd Going On The Iran War?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174447 3:13:00 Why Do Elites Love Dubai?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174467 3:15:00 Where Will It Stop?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174464 3:18:00 Can Iran Kill Americans At Scale?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174505 3:22:00 Why do elites and journos love the word ‘predicate'?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174396 3:26:00 War With Iran: Why Now and What Comes Next, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ORmcvFYU68 3:27:00 Decoding Iran Expert Suzanne Maloney, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174388 3:36:00 Why does the MSM fetishize “seriousness” and dismiss Trump's team for lack thereof?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=174363
Where are Iran's ayatollahs? The real ayatollahs have not been involved in Iran's government for decades. And Ayatollah Khamenei (son and father) are not real ayatollahs. In this interview, we discuss the following: ►Was Iran's Supreme Leader supposed to be an all-powerful king or a philosopher king? ►What are the real powers of Iran's Supreme Leader? Does he rule by consensus or fiat? ►Have any Iranian presidents ever defied the Supreme Leader? ►Why does Iran have so many non-governmental institutions with so much power? ►How and when did Iran become Shia? ►Who are ayatollahs and why are there so many? ►How has Shiism formed the Iranian identity from the 19th century to now. ►What is about Iran that most Americans (actually, most people) don't understand? *****
Even though the joint United States-Israeli war on Iran is in its early days, “we already are in a scenario where the US has lost control of this war,” argues Vali Nasr, professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University. Nasr tells host Steve Clemons that Iran is the weaker party, but it “has the capability to create a much longer mayhem” than envisioned by the US and Israel. US goals for this war may be unclear, but “Israel's goal is to arrive at a point where it's the supreme power in the Mideast”, says Nasr.
On Saturday, Israel and the United States struck Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has been responding with volleys of missiles aimed at Israel—and also at several other countries in the region. How will the conflict end? How long can Tehran sustain this fight? Iran expert Vali Nasr joined Ravi Agrawal for an emergency episode that ran live on the afternoon of Monday, March 3. Daniel Byman: 6 Questions About Operation Epic Fury Barbara Slavin: Death Comes to the Dictator Ali Hashem: Iran Is Built to Withstand the Ayatollah's Assassination Alireza Nader and Nik Kowsar: Khamenei Is Dead. Who's In Charge of Iran? Amos C. Fox and Franz-Stefan Gady: Iran, Israel, and the U.S. Are Racing the Clock Anchal Vohra: Iran's Proxies Are Out for Themselves for Now Emma Ashford: Trump Is Betraying His Base by Waging War on Iran Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As Israel expands its war on Iran and U.S. officials float the possibility of American boots on the ground, what is really happening behind the headlines?Iran expert at Johns Hopkins Vali Nasr joins Rania Khalek to explain:Why Iran prepared for decapitation strikesWhy “regime collapse” is far from guaranteedHow global oil supplies “have become a battlefield” Why Trump may already be looking for an off-rampThe growing divide between U.S. and Israeli war goalsThe chances this conflict could spiral into something far biggerNasr argues that Iran's strategy isn't to win quickly. It's to make the war long, costly, and politically dangerous for Washington.If this is the “last battle” for Iran's leadership, what does that mean for the region — and for the global economy?
This weekend after weeks of threats and tense negotiations, the U.S. and Israel began a war with Iran. The developments have been incredibly consequential, from the assasination of Iran's Supreme Leader to Iran's retaliatory attacks on neighbouring Gulf states. To unpack this moment, what led to it, and go through what the future of the Middle East could look like in the aftermath, we are joined by Vali Nasr, Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He is also the author of Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History.
Gang members in Mexico are retaliating against the killing of most-wanted cartel boss "El Mencho," torching buses and businesses, clashing with security forces, and setting hundreds of blockades across 20 Mexican states. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum told the country this morning that peace and security is "being maintained" and stressed the key role Mexico's military played in the operation. Mexican scholar Viri Rios joins the show from Mexico City. Also on today's show: CNN International Correspondent Max Foster; Yale Law School professor Natasha Sarin; Johns Hopkins professor Vali Nasr; legendary musician Wynton Marsalis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As Trump continues nuclear talks with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rushed to Washington to influence any potential deal. But amid uprisings, sanctions, and conflict with Israel, the Islamic regime is in its "end chapter". Will either side get what they want? Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald are joined in studio by Vali Nasr, who advised the US State Department on Iran during the Obama era. They talk about why Trump fell for his own saviour narrative, and how October 7 is still reshaping the region.Guest: Vali Nasr, Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs at Johns Hopkins University and former US State Department adviser on Iran. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au
Iran is on notice as one of the U.S. military's largest aircraft carriers arrives in the Middle East after thousands of protesters were killed in a brutal crackdown. How vulnerable is the regime? And what are President Trump's options if he chooses to enforce his red line? Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses that with Firas Maksad, Vali Nasr, Behnam Ben Taleblu and Robin Wright. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Iran is on notice as one of the U.S. military's largest aircraft carriers arrives in the Middle East after thousands of protesters were killed in a brutal crackdown. How vulnerable is the regime? And what are President Trump's options if he chooses to enforce his red line? Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses that with Firas Maksad, Vali Nasr, Behnam Ben Taleblu and Robin Wright. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Protests across Iran continued to grow despite a nationwide blackout implemented overnight. What started as street marches against crippling inflation in the autocratic state have quickly grown to become one of Iran's largest protest movements in years. Stephanie Sy reports and Amna Nawaz discusses more with Vali Nasr. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Has Iran experienced more foreign interventions than other countries? What really happened to Iran in 1953? And why are Iranians reinterpreting its history now?
Protests across Iran continued to grow despite a nationwide blackout implemented overnight. What started as street marches against crippling inflation in the autocratic state have quickly grown to become one of Iran's largest protest movements in years. Stephanie Sy reports and Amna Nawaz discusses more with Vali Nasr. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Protests in Iran have stretched on for six days, sparked by rising prices and the collapse of the country's currency, the rial. Johns Hopkins University professor Vali Nasr joins us.And, Israel will soon ban more than three dozen aid organizations operating in Gaza. The American Friends Service Committee is one of those groups. AFSC's Kerri Kennedy explains why she thinks complying with Israel's demands would put workers at risk.Then, a group that tracks conflicts around the world says in a new report that "high levels of conflict are the new normal." Clionadh Raleigh details what her organization's report found.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Negar Mortazavi and Vali Nasr had a book talk at the Busboys and Poets bookstore in Washington, to discuss Nasr's latest book “Iran's Grand Strategy”
Iran has been in the news a lot in 2025. Over recent decades, it has been a variable in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. But during the Twelve Day War with Israel in June of this year, Iran very much took centre stage. People started asking questions, chief among them being: What does […]
For the first time in six years, the US government has shut down. While government shutdowns are not unprecedented, this one carries unique and potentially far-reaching implications. Speculation is growing that the administration may use the shutdown as an opportunity to enact sweeping changes, including mass firings. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen joins Christiane to explore why this shutdown may be unlike any before, and what the administration's recent rhetoric and actions could signal for the days ahead. Also on today's show: Vali Nasr, Professor, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University; former US Senator Joe Manchin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael, I speak with renowned foreign policy expert Vali Nasr about his book Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History. We examine the historical roots of Iran's political and strategic thinking, from the Persian Empire to the modern Islamic Republic, and explore how ideology, geopolitics, and domestic politics shape Iran's approach to the world. Nasr explains how Iran perceives the United States and its foreign policy, and how this perception informs Tehran's dealings with the U.S., its own diplomacy, and its long-term strategy. He also offers a reassessment of the 1953 Iranian coup d'état, arguing that while the U.S. supported it, the coup itself emerged organically from Iranian political dynamics. And yes, we will discuss the issue of Iran and its nuclear program, including what the strike against Fordow nuclear site entails for Iran.
Negar Mortazavi speaks with Vali Nasr, Professor and former dean at Johns Hopkins University, about Iran's grand strategy, the 12-day war with Israel, and Iran's long term foreign policy calculations.
After the 12 day war, which saw Israel and the US bomb Iran and its nuclear facilities, where next for the Iranian regime? Questions remain over the Tehran regime's ability to stay in power after decades of tensions in the region exploded on Iranian soil in June, its strategy of ‘forward defence' left in ruins following Israel's attacks on Iranian-aligned militia groups. Will Iran now continue to pursue what's left of the nuclear programme targeted by US and Israeli strikes, or can a lasting diplomatic solution finally be found? Gavin Esler talks to Vali Nasr – the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, and the author of Iran's Grand Strategy – A Political History. • This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There's a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to https://incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Advertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people with money to spend? (Yes, they do exist). Some 3.5 MILLION people download and watch our podcasts every month – and they love our shows. Why not get YOUR brand in front of our influential listeners with podcast advertising? Contact ads@podmasters.co.uk to find out more Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Iran has for decades been one of the most significant—and tricky—foreign policy challenges facing America and the West. Unfortunately, most people do not know much about the country's true goals. Join us as Vali Nasr examines Iran's political history to explain the actions and ambitions of the country's leaders. He says behind the veneer of theocracy and Islamic ideology, modern Iran pursues a grand strategy with the twin goals of internal security and international activism. Nasr, author of Iran's Grand Strategy, draws on memoirs, oral histories, and original in-depth interviews with leading Iranians to uncover facts and events that have been previously overlooked. He examines the impact of its war with Iraq, the subsequent American actions against Iran and its invasion of Iraq in 2003, and ensuing events. He says these events have shaped the outlook in Tehran, creating a pervasive fear of the United States and its ambitions for the Middle East. Want to understand Iran and how best to engage with it? Don't miss this program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey talks with Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies and former dean at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, about Iran's dangerous crossroads after its latest clash with Israel and the United States. Nasr argues that Western narratives about Iran as a reckless theocracy miss the calculated grand strategy behind its actions — a strategy rooted in centuries of imperial ambition, deep-seated insecurity, and anti-American resentment. He explains why the Islamic Republic has survived despite public disillusionment and why hopes of regime change are naïve. Nasr warns that Iran's nuclear ambitions are now more entrenched than ever, as ordinary Iranians begin to see the bomb as their only shield against annihilation. With the U.S. unwilling to invade but also disinclined to negotiate in good faith, Nasr lays out the stark choice Washington faces: a nuclear Iran or another disastrous Middle East war. Nasr recently published Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History (Princeton University Press), and is also the author of The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat (Penguin 2014), and The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future (W.W. Norton, 2016 [2006]). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
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 advice on green policy. Mentioned in this podcast:Israel-Iran latest: JD Vance declares era of new Trump foreign policy doctrineThe war that will remake Iran's Islamic republicIran at the precipiceJay Powell pushes back on calls for Federal Reserve rate cuts as soon as JulyRachman Review podcastUS states send delegates to EU for advice on green policyToday's FT News Briefing was produced by Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Fiona Symon, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Kelly Garry, and Gavin Kallmann. Our acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Our intern is Michaela Seah. The show's theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Iran presents one of the most significant foreign policy challenges for America and the West, yet very little is known about what the country's goals really are. Vali Nasr examines Iran's political history in new ways to explain its actions and ambitions on the world stage, showing how, behind the veneer of theocracy and Islamic ideology, today's Iran is pursuing a grand strategy aimed at securing the country internally and asserting its place in the region and the world.Drawing on memoirs, oral histories, and original in-depth interviews with Iranian decision makers, Nasr brings to light facts and events in Iran's political history that have been overlooked until now. He traces the roots of Iran's strategic outlook to its experiences over the past four decades of war with Iraq in the 1980s and the subsequent American containment of Iran, invasion of Iraq in 2003, and posture toward Iran thereafter. Nasr reveals how these experiences have shaped a geopolitical outlook driven by pervasive fear of America and its plans for the Middle East.Challenging the notion that Iran's foreign policy simply reflects its revolutionary values or theocratic government, Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History (Princeton UP, 2025) provides invaluable new insights into what Iran wants and why, explaining the country's resistance to the United States, its nuclear ambitions, and its pursuit of influence and proxies across the Middle East. Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He served as the eighth Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS between 2012 and 2019 and served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke between 2009 and 2011. He has written a number of books on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. He has advised senior American policymakers, world leaders, and businesses, including the President, Secretary of State, senior members of the Congress, and presidential campaigns. He has written for New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, among others. Professor Nasr serves as the co-director of the SAIS Rethinking Iran Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, sits on the board of a number of academic institutions, has won a number of prominent grants, and holds a chair named after Henry Kissinger at the library of Congress. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Book recommendations: The World After Gaza by Pankaj Mishra The Great Transformation: China's Road from Revolution to Reform by Odd Arne Westad and Chen Jian Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Iran presents one of the most significant foreign policy challenges for America and the West, yet very little is known about what the country's goals really are. Vali Nasr examines Iran's political history in new ways to explain its actions and ambitions on the world stage, showing how, behind the veneer of theocracy and Islamic ideology, today's Iran is pursuing a grand strategy aimed at securing the country internally and asserting its place in the region and the world.Drawing on memoirs, oral histories, and original in-depth interviews with Iranian decision makers, Nasr brings to light facts and events in Iran's political history that have been overlooked until now. He traces the roots of Iran's strategic outlook to its experiences over the past four decades of war with Iraq in the 1980s and the subsequent American containment of Iran, invasion of Iraq in 2003, and posture toward Iran thereafter. Nasr reveals how these experiences have shaped a geopolitical outlook driven by pervasive fear of America and its plans for the Middle East.Challenging the notion that Iran's foreign policy simply reflects its revolutionary values or theocratic government, Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History (Princeton UP, 2025) provides invaluable new insights into what Iran wants and why, explaining the country's resistance to the United States, its nuclear ambitions, and its pursuit of influence and proxies across the Middle East. Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He served as the eighth Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS between 2012 and 2019 and served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke between 2009 and 2011. He has written a number of books on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. He has advised senior American policymakers, world leaders, and businesses, including the President, Secretary of State, senior members of the Congress, and presidential campaigns. He has written for New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, among others. Professor Nasr serves as the co-director of the SAIS Rethinking Iran Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, sits on the board of a number of academic institutions, has won a number of prominent grants, and holds a chair named after Henry Kissinger at the library of Congress. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Book recommendations: The World After Gaza by Pankaj Mishra The Great Transformation: China's Road from Revolution to Reform by Odd Arne Westad and Chen Jian Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
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, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Further reading: Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History by Vali Nasr. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Iranians protesting US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran. Photo by Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today on the program, the US entered the conflict between Israel and Iran by striking three of its key nuclear sites. Fareed speaks with head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi about the damage caused by the attack. Then, why did President Trump decide to enter the conflict? Fareed speaks to CFR President Emeritus Richard Haas and retired Admiral James Stavridis. Finally, how are leaders in Iran and Israel changing their strategies moving forward and will these strikes usher in a new era in the Middle East? Fareed is joined by Johns Hopkins' Vali Nasr and Columbia University's Nadav Eyal. GUESTS: Rafael Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi), James Stavridis (@stavridisj), Richard Haass (@RichardHaass), Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr), Nadav Eyal (@Nadav_Eyal) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
For America, 1979 was one of the coldest years of the Cold War. The U.S. lost a friend. Gained a foe. And then its nightmare scenario for the Middle East began to come true. This is the history of how and why the U.S. military now has a permanent presence in the Middle East.
First: Christiane's exclusive conversation with the Iranian deputy foreign minister on how it could respond to U.S. involvement and still holding out hope for nuclear negotiations once this war is over. Then: If regime change is also Israel's goal. Who is waiting in the wings to take over? Christiane speaks with former State Department adviser and Iran expert Vali Nasr. Also: From her archives, Christiane looks back at a moment of hope inside and outside Iran for a peaceful transition to freedom and stability. Dreams well and truly dashed in the intervening years. And: Film director Wes Anderson speaks with Christiane about his new film "The Phoenician Scheme," the inescapable signature style of all his movies, and hiring Kate Winslet's daughter. Finally: As Berlin pays tribute to the legendary artwork of wrapping the Reichstag by Christo and Jean-Claude this week, Christiane revisits her conversation with Christo and what he told her about the project and how his own history as a refugee informed his art and unstoppable drive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Alone in the Middle East! Imperial Iran… Safavids, Qajars, and even the Pahlavis - alone in the Middle East. And then, the Ayatollahs. Again, Iran alone in the Middle East.
Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial James and Al castigate Trump's narcissistic military parade and contrast his authoritarian impulses with the protestors standing up for democracy. Then, they welcome Iran expert, Professor Vali Nasr, to discuss Iranian-US relations, Israel's attacks, and the staying power of the Ayatollah's regime. In their conversation, they explore the potential responses we might see following attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, how things got to this point, and if there is any potential for a deal under Trump. They also look at the consequences of a drawn-out war with a large, militarized country, and what it would take to finally have normalized relations. Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon. Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you're from! More from James and Al: Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon. Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack Check Out Andrew Zucker's New Politicon Podcast: The Golden Age Check Out Kimberly Atkins Stohr's New Politicon Podcast: Justice By Design Get More From This Week's Guest: Professor Vali Nasr: Foreign Affairs | Twitter | State Department | Johns Hopkins SAIS | Author Please Support Our Sponsors: Royo: Go to eatroyo.com and use our promo code PWR for 20% OFF! Trust & Will: Trust & Will can help you take control of protecting your family's future. Go to trustandwill.com/WARROOM for 20% off. Quince: Get 365-day returns and free shipping on high-quality, stylish, and affordable clothing you'll wear for years to come when you go to quince.com/warroom Naked Wines: To get 6 bottles of wine for $39.99, head to nakedwines.com/warroom and use code WARROOM for both the code and password.
As Israel continues to attack Iran, it says Tehran crossed the red line after striking a major hospital in southern Israel. Iran says it was targeting a nearby technology park, but Israel says it was a deliberate attack on civilians. Correspondent Fred Pleitgen is in Tehran and brings a report from outside the state television building that Israel attacked. Also on today's show: Vali Nasr, Author, "Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History"; Jeff Flake, Former Republican US Senator / Former US Ambassador to Turkey; Barbara Walter, Professor of International Affairs, U.C. San Diego / Author, "How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
President Trump is calling for a "real end" to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Vali Nasr, a professor of Middle East studies and international affairs at Johns Hopkins University, joins us to talk about how Trump is navigating the crisis. And, the Trump administration's immigration raids have targeted farm workers. California farmer Lisa Tate shares the impact of those raids on the farm workforce. Then, Tuesday marks 10 years since a white supremacist opened fire at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine parishioners. Marcus Amaker, the first poet laureate of Charleston, reflects on the past decade.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Conflict broke out between Israel and Iran on Friday, with Israel launching an attack on Iran's nuclear and military facilities and Iran responding in turn. Vali Nasr, a Middle East expert and professor at Johns Hopkins University, sits down with Ravi Agrawal to discuss. Nasr is the author, most recently, of Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History. FP Staff: Israel Strikes Iran Iselin Brady and Daniel Byman: How the Israel-Iran War Might End Steven A. Cook: Israel Is Going for the Death Blow on Iran Jeffrey Lewis: Nuclear Claims Are a Smoke Screen for Hopes of Toppling Iran John Haltiwanger: Iran's Military Just Lost Its ‘Brain Trust' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today on the show, guest anchor Bianna Golodryga speaks with The New York Times' David Sanger after a weekend of strikes between Iran and Israel. They discuss this escalating conflict and what it means for the future of US-Iran nuclear negotiations. Next, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar joins the show to tell Bianna what his country is hoping to achieve by attacking Iran's nuclear facilities. Then, Johns Hopkins professor Vali Nasr and The New Yorker's Susan Glasser speak to Bianna about how the US will respond to the conflict between Iran and Israel, as well as the significance of President Trump's military parade. Finally, retired Major General James ‘Spider' Marks joins to discuss the military dynamics at play between Iran and Israel and what the two countries' defense capabilities might mean for the future of the conflict. GUESTS: David Sanger (@SangerNYT), Gideon Sa'ar (@gidonsaar), Susan Glasser (@sbg1), Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr), James "Spider" Marks (@RangerSpider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
For a perspective on the conflict between Israel and Iran, Geoff Bennett spoke with Wendy Sherman, the lead negotiator for the nuclear agreement with Iran during the Obama administration, and Vali Nasr, author of “Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History.” PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
During his visit to the Middle East, President Trump announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, arms sales and U.S.-Saudi business agreements. For additional perspective on this, Amna Nawaz spoke with Vali Nasr, an adviser in the State Department during the Obama administration, and Bernard Haykel, professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Today on the show, Fareed is joined by MAGA intellectual and founder of American Compass Oren Cass and former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers for a debate on the merits of President Trump's tariff policy. Then, the Wall Street Journal's Chief China Correspondent Lingling Wei joins to discuss the escalating US-China trade war and how Beijing is responding to Trump's tariffs. Finally, following the first round of talks this week, Johns Hopkins professor Vali Nasr speaks with Fareed about the Trump administration's efforts to strike a new nuclear deal with Iran. GUESTS: Oren Cass (@oren_cass), Larry Summers (@LHSummers), Lingling Wei (@Lingling_Wei), Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the hours between Friday and Sunday, the White House announced exemptions on some Chinese tech products, only for the Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to say these are just "temporary" and that the electronics will still face other levies. Greg Mankiw, a former economic adviser to President George W. Bush, and Ernie Tedeschi, who was chief economist under President Biden, join the show together to discuss. Also on today's show: Vali Nasr, Professor, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University / Former U.S. State Department Advisor; David Culver, Senior US National Correspondent; Kenneth Stern, Director, Bard Center for the Study of Hate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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