Decoding Geopolitics Podcast with Dominik Presl #68 Zineb Riboua: Iran’s Project Has Already Collapsed. It’s Weaker Than Ever and It’s Gonna Get Worse
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Jun 20, 2025 Zineb Riboua, a Middle East expert and research fellow at the Hudson Institute, dives deep into the fraught relations between Iran and Israel. She discusses Israel's military strategies and objectives, questioning whether they can truly dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The conversation also explores Iran's internal vulnerabilities and miscalculations, as well as the role of the Trump administration in shaping these geopolitical dynamics. Riboua highlights Hezbollah's current stance and the psychological aspects of warfare that impact Iran's ambitions.
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Israel's Three-Phase Iran Strategy
- Israel's operation against Iran is in its third phase, focusing directly on Iran's core capabilities.
- The operation targets nuclear infrastructure, command decapitation, and missile capabilities to paralyze Iran's power projection.
Misreading of Geopolitical Timing
- Iran miscalculated the timing due to U.S. negotiation delays and regional shifts.
- Neutralization of Saudi opposition and Chinese involvement emboldened Iran falsely about Israel's restraint.
Likely Israel-U.S. Coordination
- Israel likely coordinated closely with Trump before the attack to inform the U.S. president.
- Netanyahu would be cautious to proceed without U.S. knowledge on sensitive Iran operations.