Economist Podcasts Clutching at shahs: Iran’s would-be revolutionary
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Jan 16, 2026 
Nick Palom, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, provides insights on Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Iranian shah, who claims to be the people's choice for leadership amid the chaos in Iran. Pahlavi discusses the need for U.S. intervention and his plans for a transitional government. Meanwhile, Mike Bird reveals why renting has become financially smarter than buying in today's market. Lastly, Anne Rowe dives into the life of Aldrich Ames, a CIA double agent, examining his motivations and the consequences of his betrayals.
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Pahlavi Presents Himself As The Front-Runner
- Reza Pahlavi positions himself as a unifying figure amid nationwide protests calling for change.
- He expects international (especially American) pressure or intervention to be decisive in toppling the regime.
Mixed US Signals Weaken Momentum
- Mixed signals from the US undermined Pahlavi's expectation of imminent military action.
- Nick Palom emphasises conflicting messages about strikes and whether killings had stopped.
Regime Faces Few Viable Survival Options
- The regime may try to survive by replacing hardline leaders with reformist or military figures to avoid collapse.
- Palom says the scale of killings and arrests makes it hard for theocracy to regain legitimacy.