Eye For Iran

Tehran and Washington head into high-stakes talks in Oman this weekend that could decide whether the region is headed for detente or all-out war. Will these negotiations open the door to a nuclear deal or mark the beginning of a dangerous escalation? On Eye for Iran, we’ve brought together a powerhouse panel to break it all down: Gabriel Noronha, former Special Advisor for the Iran Action Group at the US State Department under Trump, Arash Azizi, Iran analyst and author of What Iranians Want, Jay Solomon, investigative reporter with The Free Press, Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director at FDD. Noronha says Saturday’s meeting will test how serious Iran is about diplomacy. Azizi argues Iran’s political and economic desperation could push it toward compromise. Taleblu contends that walking away from the table might be the best option for the US to prevent being dragged into months of endless negotiations. And Solomon sheds light on the deep divisions within the Trump camp on how to deal with the Islamic Republic.#Iraninternational #ایران_اینترنشنال #iran #podcast #trump #nuclear #usa #news #shorts #negotiation

In the shadow of President Donald Trump’s threats to strike Iran and following more than a year of punishing Israeli attacks, a battered but unbowed Islamic Republic is plotting its comeback, warns Middle East security analyst Dr. Eric Mandel.“Iran is not giving up,” said Mandel, founder of MEPIN, the Middle East Political Information Network. “Iran's proxies, they may be down—Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis—but they're not stopping.”According to Mandel, the moment to pressure Iran is now. He calls it a fleeting “window of opportunity” that could soon close. A potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine may open the door for Moscow to supply Iran with advanced weaponry, including the S-400 air defense system—an upgrade from the S-300 system that Israel destroyed in an October 26 strike in response to Tehran’s October 2 missile barrage.But without clear US backing for the Iranian people, Mandel warns, even a successful strike on nuclear facilities could prove short-lived. Iran, he says, would simply rebuild—preserving the Islamic Republic's grip on power and undermining any hope for real change.

Ordinary Iranians are bearing unprecedented economic pain as their Islamic government's row with its hated enemies Israel and the United States ramps up and Tehran prioritizes military spending to shore up defense and its regional clout. Iran implemented a 200 percent increase in military spending for the Persian year beginning this month and will aim to boost revenue through higher taxes despite a big deficit and a moribund currency besetting the economy.According to Mahdi Ghodsi, an economist at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, and Mohamad Machine Chian, a senior researcher at the Center of Governance and Markets at Pittsburgh University, Iran’s leadership continues to prioritize military spending on proxy wars and the Revolutionary Guards over the welfare of its own citizens.Speaking on the program Eye for Iran, Ghodsi and Machine Chian said the Iranian government has no concrete plans to provide economic relief for its citizens in this year’s budget. But will this economic crisis lead to the downfall of Iran’s clerical establishment?Watch Eye for Iran to hear insights from the experts.#iran #trump #usa #news #podcast #shorts #youtube #economy

Iran will witness a turning point this year, marked by what may be the most consequential decision yet to be made by the country’s Supreme Leader. The outcome will likely come down to two options: pursuing a nuclear deal or facing the prospect of war. That’s according to Mark Dubowitz, the CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and a well-known voice on Iran policy. He told Eye for Iran that the Trump administration is preparing for all scenarios — including military action if diplomacy fails. While Trump’s goal is to block all pathways to Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb, Dubowitz argues that lasting success is unlikely as long as the Islamic Republic remains in power. According to him, Washington has failed to provide sufficient support to the people of Iran. He believes that if the Islamic Republic remains in control, it will eventually violate the terms of any agreement, regardless of how strong the safeguards are. #Iraninternational #ایران_اینترنشنال #iran #trump #israel #nuclear #youtube #shorts #podcast

Iran and Russia seem closer than ever since Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with Tehran emerging as a key supplier of drones and missiles to Moscow. However, journalist Tanya Lukyanova suggests this partnership may not be as solid as it appears, especially as shifting geopolitical tides—including Donald Trump’s return to the White House—reshape global dynamics.With a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire more likely than ever, Moscow-born Lukyanova unpacks how this marriage of convenience could evolve as Russia recalibrates its position in the Middle East and beyond.#vladimirputin #donaldtrump #iran #nuclear #geopolitics #podcast

Global alliances are in flux as President Donald Trump casts doubt on U.S. commitments. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, a 40-year insurgency between Turkey and the outlawed PKK has ended in a ceasefire. Ankara has reportedly offered peacekeepers to Ukraine, contingent on a war-ending agreement.As Turkey navigates domestic challenges, it could seek to replace Iran as the dominant regional power, said Henri Barkey, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, to Iran International. Meanwhile, Russia has positioned itself as a mediator between Washington and Tehran over nuclear talks."No leader has done more for Russia than Trump, so Moscow could pressure Iran," Barkey told Eye for Iran.Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on major podcast platforms.#iraninternational #ایران_اینترنشنال #iran #podcast #news #youtube #shorts #turkey #russia #ukraine #trump

To understand why a peaceful resolution between Israel and Palestine remains so elusive, one must first recognize that the conflict extends far beyond the two peoples directly involved. Regional powers, particularly Iran, play a pivotal role in sustaining the turmoil, award-winning author and foreign correspondent Yardena Schwartz told Eye for Iran.According to Schwartz, the plight of the Palestinians serves the interests of the clerical rulers of Iran as a geopolitical tool in its broader quest for regional dominance and its rivalry with Israel.As the conflict drags on, Schwartz observes a shift within Israeli society, particularly in the wake of the October 7 attacks. She draws a historical parallel to the 1929 Hebron Massacre, an event that, she contends, set in motion a cycle of violence that continues to shape the region today.Schwartz delves deeper into these themes in her book Ghosts of a Holy War. #Iraninternational #ایران_اینترنشنال #iran #israel #palestine #gaza #youtube #hebron #shorts #news #podcast

Sina Azodi, an expert on U.S.-Iran relations, told the Eye for Iran podcast that Irancould rebuild nuclear facilities hit by air attacks which would delay but not resolve the crisis.Azodi's analysis comes as Israel weighs striking Iran’s nuclear sites, per U.S. intelligence assessments cited by The Wall Street Journal in February.Iran could rebuild nuclear facilities hit by air attacks within 6 to 12 months, Azodi said, referring to publicly available data.If strikes fail to end Iran’s nuclear program, he warned, Tehran may pursue the 'ultimate weapon of defense.'See our playlist to see more Eye for Iran episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrqEUp1jEA7Wh9Wgwh15AjwEETFIN7T4G

US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Hamas is doomed to fail unless Tehran is under threat and faces consequences, a former US Intelligence officer and military adviser told Iran International. This comes after Trump set a deadline to return all the hostages in Gaza and warned that “all hell will break out” if the Israeli hostages are not freed by the weekend. Michael Pregent, appearing on Eye for Iran, said the Islamic Republic controls Hamas and “Tehran needs to feel pain,” if any change is going to happen. Pregent also alleges that Qatar has influence over several high-profile US officials and that this must end for a path forward. #donaldtrump #hostagedeal #israelhamaswar #ceasefire #iran

Ambassador John Bolton, appearing on this week's episode of Eye for Iran, argues that Trump has issued conflicting statements on Iran. While reinstating his maximum pressure campaign to cut Iran’s oil exports to zero, Trump has also expressed a willingness to negotiate, aiming for a verifiable agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. During the signing of an executive order memorandum, Trump even admitted he was "torn" about enforcing tough measures on Iran. Is this part of a grand strategy, or something else? We explore the answers with Bolton. #iraninternational #ایران_اینترنشنال #trump #iran #israel #youtube #shorts #news #podcast #youtube #sanctions #executiveorder