

The State of Play After the Iran-Israel War — with Karim Sadjadpour
84 snips Jun 28, 2025
Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, dives into the complexities of the Iran-Israel conflict. He reveals what's fueling the latest tensions and explores the implications for U.S. diplomacy. Karim discusses the challenges the Iranian leadership faces with an aging regime and the psychological motivations driving Middle Eastern politics. He also touches on the aspirations of the Iranian people amidst regime struggles and assesses the potential for stability in a shifting geopolitical landscape.
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Historic Iran-Israel Relations
- Iran and Israel were historically natural partners before 1979 due to complementary strengths in energy and technology.
- The 1979 revolution shifted Iran to a deep ideological opposition to Israel and the U.S., anchoring regional conflict.
Iranian Public Reaction to Conflict
- Military conflicts tend to deepen existing political divides in Iran rather than unify the country.
- Most Iranians desire modernization like South Korea, not living under a repressive regime.
Iran’s Fragile Leadership Outlook
- Iran's aging Supreme Leader leads a fragile state vulnerable to internal and external threats.
- Succession is uncertain, possibly transitioning to a military or intelligence figure rather than a cleric.