Who's left running Iran? 

Who's left running Iran? Much of the top leadership has been assassinated but the country is still fighting. How has it been able to withstand such blows? And can the Iranian government survive this war? In this episode:  Hamidreza Gholamzadeh, Director, House of Diplomacy. Ali Vaez, Director, Ira…

Will the Houthis join Iran in its war against the US and Israel?

The Yemeni armed group says it's ready for any developments in the ongoing confrontation. Given their proximity to the Red Sea, what could the Houthis' involvement mean for this vital maritime route? In this episode:  Farea Al Muslimi - Research Fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Program…

What are the global risks of turning energy sites into battlefields?

Energy prices have soared since Israel attacked Iran's South Pars gas field. Iran has targeted oil and gas facilities in neighbouring countries since early in the war. And it's warned of more to come. In this episode:  Mohsen Baharvand, Former Iranian ambassador to the United Kingdom Jim Walsh, Re…

Is Israel's decades-long assassination policy becoming normalised?

Israel assassinated Iran's supreme leader on the first day of the war — killing senior military, intelligence and political figures afterwards. For decades, assassination has been Israeli policy. But what has the strategy achieved? And is it becoming normalised?  In this episode:  Rami Khouri, Dis…

What are Iran's options after the killing of its top security chiefs?

Relentless US and Israeli attacks on Iran killed top figures with thousands of air-strikes across the country. Iran has retaliated, hitting Israel and Gulf neighbours, targeting energy facilities and supply routes. So what are Iran's options now?  In this episode:  Elijah Magnier, Military and pol…

Could the Iran war keep Netanyahu in power for longer?

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has wanted to attack Iran for his entire political career, and he finally got his way with Donald Trump in the White House. Within Israel, there's huge support for the war. So how could it impact Netanyahu's political future?  In this episode:  Alon Pinka…

Can Donald Trump survive a Strait of Hormuz shutdown?

The Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed to most shipping since the US and Israel attacked Iran — sending energy prices soaring worldwide. The marine channel in the Gulf had been the gateway for 20% of global energy supplies. What difficulties does this pose for Donald Trump?  In this epis…

What's the impact of the war in Iran on China?

What's the impact of the war in Iran on China? The two countries are close trading partners.Yet, Beijing has largely stayed away from lending any support to Tehran. But what does China stand to lose in this latest conflict in the Middle East? In this episode:  Shaun RHINE, Founder and Managing D…

Is the Iran war benefitting Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu?

The already bad situation in Gaza...is getting worse as the war in Iran rages on. The humanitarian crisis is deepening and efforts to enforce the US-brokered ceasefire are put on hold. So, is the world ignoring Gaza? And how's that benefitting Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu? In this epi…

What is Israel’s endgame in Lebanon?

With Lebanon under fire, the UN chief visits Beirut, calling for peace. Israel's bombing campaign has displaced nearly a million people. Now, its troops are advancing and threatening to stay. So, what's the endgame?  In this episode:  Nadim Houry, Executive Director of the Arab Reform Initiative M…