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دکتر ولی نصر، استاد برجسته روابط بینالملل در دانشگاه جانز هاپکینز و مشاور سابق وزارت امور خارجه آمریکا است. او به عنوان یکی از کلیدیترین تحلیلگران ژئوپولیتیک خاورمیانه در محافل آکادمیک و رسانههای غربی شناخته میشود که سیاستها و رفتارهای منطقهای را تحلیل و تبیین میکند. در این گفتگو، فارغ از قالبهای رسمی، به زبان فارسی درباره وضعیت امروز ایران، پیامدهای روانی و ساختاری بحرانهای اخیر، و چالشهای عمیق میان توسعه اقتصادی و رویکرد مقاومت به بحث نشستهایم.00:00:00 — ریشههای سیاست خارجی ایران00:17:00 — شکاف جامعه داخل و خارج00:34:00 — نقش رسانهها و الگوریتمها00:51:00 — واقعیتهای داخل و مدیریت ریسک01:08:00 — جرقههای اقتصادی و فرهنگی01:25:00 — توافق ایران و آمریکا؛ خرید زمان؟01:42:00 — بنبست توسعه و مقاومت01:59:00 — تاریخ ایران و سناریوهای آینده02:16:00 — درسهای جنگ و بار روانی غربتDr. Vali Nasr is a distinguished Professor of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University and a former advisor to the U.S. State Department. Renowned in Western media and academic circles as a leading interpreter of Middle Eastern geopolitics, he provides deep strategic insights into regional foreign policy. In this episode, stepping away from formal diplomatic constraints, we sit down for a rare Persian-language conversation to dissect the current state of Iran, the deep psychological aftermath of recent crises, the widening gap between the diaspora and domestic society, and the structural tension between economic development and regional resistance.Tabaghe 16
Headlines for June 18, 2026; Trump’s War on Iran Ends with a “Triumphant” Tehran and a Diminished U.S.: Vali Nasr; G7 Summit Highlights Global Economic System “Captured” by Billionaires: Oxfam; DOJ Takes Elon Musk’s Side in NAACP Lawsuit Against xAI for Polluting Black Neighborhoods; “Shoot the People”: Meet Misan Harriman, Celebrated Photographer & Outspoken Advocate for Palestine
Headlines for June 18, 2026; Trump’s War on Iran Ends with a “Triumphant” Tehran and a Diminished U.S.: Vali Nasr; G7 Summit Highlights Global Economic System “Captured” by Billionaires: Oxfam; DOJ Takes Elon Musk’s Side in NAACP Lawsuit Against xAI for Polluting Black Neighborhoods; “Shoot the People”: Meet Misan Harriman, Celebrated Photographer & Outspoken Advocate for Palestine
The Iran war may be coming to an end, as Washington and Tehran prepare to sign a framework agreement later this week. That deal should reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the blockade of Iranian ports, even as it leaves unresolved the issues that brought both sides to war in the first place, including the fate of Iran's nuclear program. But policymakers in Washington and other capitals are just starting to confront the ways in which the war has transformed Iran—and how it could transform the Middle East moving forward. In a recent essay for Foreign Affairs, Narges Bajoghli and Vali Nasr argue that members of a new, emboldened generation of Iranian leaders are forging an entirely new approach to their own society, to the United States, and to the region. Dan Kurtz-Phelan spoke to Bajoghli and Nasr on June 15 about the potential implications of a deal—and about how the last three and a half months of war will shape both the Middle East's trajectory and the future of geopolitics more broadly. You can find sources, transcripts, and more episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/podcasts/foreign-affairs-interview.
This week, after more than a hundred days of fighting, the United States and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to end the war, set to be signed in Geneva this Friday. This deal is meant to end the fighting, open the Strait of Hormuz and as U.S. President Donald Trump put it, “let the oil flow”.Iran's top military command has framed the deal as a defeat for the US and Israel.To talk about the peace deal and how Iran will emerge from this war, we're joined again by Vali Nasr, Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and the author of ‘Iran's Grand Strategy: A political history.'For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts
On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Jeremy Kinsman and John Negroponte to talk about trade and international diplomacy in a rapidly changing world in the context of the renewal, revision or repudiation of the North American trade agreement – CUSMA, USMCA or T-MEC. // Participants' bios: - Jeremy Kinsman served as Canada's ambassador to Russia, high commissioner to the UK, ambassador to Italy and ambassador to the European Union. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Canadian International Council - John D. Negroponte is a United States career diplomat and national security official, former Director of National Intelligence, and former United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations // Host bio: Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. // Reading Recommendations: - "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny: A Novel", by Kiran Desai: https://www.amazon.ca/Loneliness-Sonia-Sunny-Novel/dp/0307401219 - "London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth", by Patrick Radden Keefe: https://www.amazon.ca/London-Falling-Mysterious-Gilded-Familys-ebook/dp/B0FGZW9SZN - "Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History", by Vali Nasr: https://www.amazon.ca/Irans-Grand-Strategy-Political-History/dp/0691268924 // Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Judy Alomari // Release date: June 03, 2026
In this week's segment from Mehdi Unfiltered, Mehdi is joined by former Obama adviser Vali Nasr to talk about the latest in the U.S. war in Iran and how Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz, and Israel all fit into the picture SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH 'MEHDI UNFILTERED' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/mehdi-unfiltered FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/Zeteo No Paywall copy This video is being shared without a paywall. If you believe in the work we do and want to see more of it, do consider becoming a paid subscriber. And if you're not ready for the commitment, then a donation would still go a long way. Donation link https://donorbox.org/support-zeteo
The Mercantilist Restoration - https://anthonyfatseas.substack.com/p/the-mercantilist-restoration-howInterview recorded - 22nd of May, 2026On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Professor Vali Nasr. Vali Nasr is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and one of the most authoritative voices on Iran, having advised American policymakers and diplomats on the country for decades. He is also the author of Iran's Grand Strategy: A political history.During our conversation we spoke about the current situation in the Middle East, what has led up to this conflict, Iran's surprising resilience, their grand strategy, potential escalation, reshaping the Middle East and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction3:05 - Lead up to war5:48 - Surprised about escalation8:38 - Iran resilience10:48 - Iran's Grand Strategy13:18 - October 6th impact16:23 - Conflict resolution20:09 - Military escalation24:11 - How have views changed?28:17 - Iranian proxies over?29:47 - US withdrawing from Middle East?34:11 - Guerrilla warfare35:25 - One message to takeaway? 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), and Non-Resident Senior Advisor in the Middle East Program at CSIS. 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.Professor Nasr is the author of Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History, The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat; Forces of Fortune: The Rise of a New Middle Class and How it Will Change Our World; The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam will Shape the Future; Democracy in Iran: History and the Quest for Liberty; Islamic Leviathan, Islam and the Making of State Power; Mawdudi and the Making of Islamic Revivalism; Vanguard of Islamic Revolution: Jama'at-i Islami of Pakistan, and co-author of How Sanctions Work: Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare; as well as numerous articles in scholarly journals and commentary in Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. 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.Vali Nasr - X - https://x.com/vali_nasrBook - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Irans-Grand-Strategy-Political-History/dp/0691268924/WTFinance -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-fatseas-761066103/Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas
On February 28th, Israel attacked Iran. Almost immediately, the U.S. joined the fray. The claims against Iran are eerily similar to those made against Iraq in 2003. Remember back then, Baghdad supposedly was a great danger. Today, it is Iran we are to fear. It's an “imminent” threat we are told. No evidence is given. None is needed. The master has spoken. The U.S. must take military action. To paraphrase an old song, “propaganda runs deep, into your brains it will seep.” Washington has never forgiven Iran for ousting the Shah. If the U.S. didn't destroy democracy in Iran in the 1953 coup, things would have turned out differently. The geopolitical and economic consequences of this war will be felt not just in the U.S. but around the world for years to come. Recorded at Princeton University.
From the war in Iran, to the global economy, to shifting international alliances - is the old world order gone for good? Former deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Iranian-American academic Vali Nasr on the latest in the war with Iran. Then, as the war's ripple effects seem to play into Putin's hands, the European perspective with Czech President Petr Pavel. CNN reporter Abeer Salman takes us to the West Bank, where Palestinian schoolchildren are protesting after Israeli settlers surrounded their school with razor wire. Then, Christiane speaks to former Israeli diplomat Colette Avital about how she is speaking out against her country's government. For World Press Freedom Day, we go back to 2007, when Christiane visited Moscow and discovered many journalists living in fear. And finally, how King Charles' first state visit to the U.S. has been centuries in the making. Air date: May 2, 2026 Guests: Wendy Sherman & Vali Nasr Petr Pavel Colette Avital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Despite on-again, off-again negotiations, the United States has no other option but to pursue a diplomatic solution with Iran, argues Vali Nasr, professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University. Nasr tells host Steve Clemons that the US-Israel war on Iran has shown the limits of military force. “You don't go to the table to demand surrender. The other side is not going to surrender because they haven't lost. So you have to cut a deal,” Nasr said, adding that Iran's objective is to make sure the US and Israel understand that “war with Iran isn't easy”.
Eight weeks into the US-Israeli war against Iran, the ceasefire is about to expire and the second round of negotiations is supposed to be happening this week in Islamabad. Darren uses the framework of “war-as-bargaining” to make sense of an extraordinary three weeks—the threats, the ceasefire, the collapse of the first talks, the blockade, Iran's brief reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and its near-immediate closure—and argues that the conflict has transformed Iran's strategic calculus in ways that make control of the Strait a functional substitute for nuclear weapons. The episode then works through what kind of deal is actually possible, why the Trump administration's rejection of process makes that deal hard to deliver, and why the West more broadly is going to have to develop the psychological capacity to live with outcomes in which adversaries get to enjoy strategic successes. Darren finishes with a moral accounting of Trump's threats to annihilate Iranian civilisation, and a post-script on what he still believes despite it all. Australia in the World is written, hosted, and produced by Darren Lim, with research and editing by Hannah Nelson and theme music composed by Rory Stenning. Relevant links Thomas Schelling, Arms and Influence (Yale University Press, 1966): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113730.Arms_and_Influence Robert Pape, Bombing to Win: Air Power and Coercion in War (Cornell University Press, 1996): https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/761594.Bombing_to_Win Mark Mazzetti, Adam Entous and Julian E. Barnes, “For Iran, Flexing Control Over Waterway Is New Deterrent,” New York Times, 18 April 2026: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/us/politics/iran-hormuz-strait-trump.html Josh Dawsey and Annie Linskey, “Behind Trump's Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears”, 18 April 2026: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-public-bravado-private-fear-59814dca “Which Iran is America dealing with?”, The Economist, 19 April 2026: https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/04/19/which-iran-is-america-dealing-with Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo, “U.S. considers $20 billion cash-for-uranium deal with Iran,” Axios, 17 April 2026: https://www.axios.com/2026/04/17/iran-us-deal-20-billion-frozen-funds-uranium Phil Stewart, “Allies fear a rushed US–Iran framework deal could backfire, leaving technical deadlock,” Reuters, 19 April 2026: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/allies-fear-rushed-usiran-framework-deal-could-backfire-leaving-technical-2026-04-19/ Fareed Zakaria interview with Ezra Klein, “Fareed Zakaria on the Moral Cost of Trump's War,” The Ezra Klein Show, New York Times, 10 April 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5hU0VHM1-M&pp=ygUSZXpyYSBrbGVpbiBwb2RjYXN0 The West Wing, “They'll Like Us When We Win”: YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZYs2UpLYAI Twitter handles of individuals mentioned: Danny (Dennis) Citrinowicz (@citrinowicz) Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr) Ali Vaez (@AliVaez) Robert Malley (@Rob_Malley) Dmitri Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE)
Today on the show, with the US-Iran ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday, the shaky ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and continued chaos in the Strait of Hormuz, Vali Nasr joins to discuss what might come next in the Middle East. Then, in a stunning defeat Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lost his reelection campaign after more than a decade in power. Fareed speaks with Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum about what this might mean for populism in Europe. Finally, New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe joins the show to discuss his new book, “London Falling,” about a teenager's mysterious death in London, and the city's shadowy underworld that it revealed. GUESTS: Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr), Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum), Patrick Radden Keefe (@praddenkeefe) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Iran—a nation shaped by imperial memory and modern vulnerability.Not too long ago, Iran was far larger than it is today. European expansion and colonial intervention cut away at its territories—provinces and realms that had long been part of Iran… or were imagined to be.This is the history of how Iran's shifting borders shaped the modern state—and how, in turn, the idea of the Iranian homeland continues to be shaped by memory, myth, and identity.
After six weeks of war and a fragile ceasefire Iran is going into high-level talks with the U.S. battered but defiant. Whether any kind of real agreement can be reached remains to be seen. The U.S. and Iran are extremely far apart in their demands.Vali Nasr is a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University and the author of “Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History”. He joins us to talk about why Iran's leadership remains steadfast and what the war has meant for its domestic and international standing. For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts
Why has Iran refused to break under decades of American and Israeli pressure? What really sustains the Islamic Republic? And what does this war reveal about the fractures in the global order?Nasr argues that reducing Iran to a theocracy misses the point entirely.------------------About the Guest:Vali Nasr served as Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is the author of several landmark books, including The Dispensable Nation, The Shia Revival, and his most recent, Iran's Grand Strategy — which frames much of the conversation in this episode.About the host:Gita Wirjawan is an Indonesian entrepreneur and educator. He is the founding partner of Ikhlas Capital and the chairman of Ancora Group. Currently, he is teaching at Stanford as a visiting scholar with Stanford's Precourt Institute for Energy.------------------Get your copy of Gita Wirjawan's book, “What It Takes: Southeast Asia”, NOW:https://books.endgame.id/Also available on Amazon:https://sgpp.me/amazon/Leave your review here:www.goodreads.com/book/show/241922036-what-it-takes------------------You might also like:https://youtu.be/oT4OcBYEZac?si=RL9-S29Ljw9yWjb-https://youtu.be/rsi7cDRUrmE?si=tvu8hd9rRPFm5FIZhttps://youtu.be/eMNiQEmU4kc?si=tk0Q8L1nJv6SHh0q------------------
“We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.” That quote is courtesy of Donald Trump, who shared it during last night's national address on the war against Iran. Oil traders were clearly hoping for a plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. They didn't get one. John Kirby is a former US Navy Rear Admiral and has served as Pentagon spokesperson, State Department spokesperson and National Security Communications Advisor. He joins the show from Chicago. Also on today's show: Vali Nasr, Former U.S. State Department Adviser; Edward Wong, Diplomatic Correspondent, New York Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti, an Al-Monitor Podcast
Iranian-American academic Vali Nasr says rising civilian deaths and the destruction of iconic sites such as the Qajar-era Golestan Palace are turning even the most anti-regime Iranians against the US‑Israeli war, which many now see as a threat to the nation itself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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
Three weeks into the war on Iran, the conflict is expanding more than ever.The Strait of Hormuz is closed, energy infrastructure is under attack, and U.S. bases are increasingly vulnerable. Israel and Washington are escalating.According to Middle East expert Vali Nasr, this is actually all part of Iran's strategy.Iran isn't trying to win quickly. To “win” is to survive — and for that it wants to make the war longer, more expensive, and politically unsustainable for the United States.In this conversation with Rania Khalek, Nasr explains:-Why Trump gets weaker the longer the war extends-How energy and Hormuz became the central battlefield-What Washington fundamentally miscalculated-Why regime change is unlikely-The role of Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi factions-And whether any real off-ramp still exists-If this war continues, the consequences won't just be regional, they will be global.
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
On today's show: Headlines “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 Democracy Now! is a daily independent award-winning news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. The post Democracy Now! – March 19, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.
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/book-of-the-day
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
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.
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/politics-and-polemics
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
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
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”