Intelligence Squared

The Sunday Debate: Iran Is Not Our Enemy

Mar 27, 2022

Mehdi Hassan, a journalist and broadcaster at Al Jazeera, argues passionately that Iran shouldn't be seen as the West's enemy. Azadeh Moaveni, an NYU London lecturer, supports this view, emphasizing Iran's complex role in global politics. In contrast, Salman al-Ansari, a Saudi political analyst, highlights Iran's human rights issues and ties to terrorism. The debate explores U.S.-Iran relations, the impact of sanctions, and the vital need for engagement over hostility, offering fresh insights on a nuanced geopolitical landscape.

01:05:22

Episode guests

Azadeh Moaveni

Salman al-Ansari

Mehdi Hasan

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Revisiting US-Iran Relations: Enemy or Ally?

27min

Comparative Analysis of Saudi Arabia and Iran in Global Context

2min

Historical Roots of Iran's Perception of Enmity

2min

Debating the Efficacy of Confrontation with Iran

2min

Navigating Complex Alliances and Sanctions

9min

Iran's Role in Regional Politics

19min

In this debate from the Intelligence Squared archive, we head back to 2020, when we invited journalist and broadcaster Mehdi Hasan, academic and writer Azadeh Moaveni, the Saudi political analyst Salman al-Ansari and former Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan to debate the motion: Iran is Not Our Enemy. The discussion touches on many issues that hold relevance in the current moment, ranging from the effectiveness of sanctions to the capabilities of nuclear-armed nations. The debate was chaired by the BBC's Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet.

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