Has Israeli society become conditioned to permanent war? 

A negative political and public reaction in Israel to the ceasefire with Iran - regardless of the respite it brings. No pause for Israel's army however or its victims - hundreds killed in Lebanon and more dead in Gaza. Has Israeli society become conditioned to permanent war?  In this episode:  Ila…

Why is Hungary's election of such international importance?

Opinion polls in Hungary suggest long-time prime minister Viktor Orban has a battle on his hands in Sunday's election. The outcome will be keenly awaited in Washington, Moscow, Kyiv, and Brussels. So why is this election so important outside of Hungary?  In this episode:  Gabor Scheiring, a former…

How far is Iran willing to go to protect its friends and allies?

The bombing of Iran has stopped, but the bombing of Lebanon has not. Even as Iran and the US say they'll try to work out their many differences at the negotiating table in Pakistan, Israel is busy ramping up its attacks on what it says are Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The group has been a key play…

Has the world order been changed by Trump's war on Iran?

Donald Trump has found his Iran off-ramp — but what has it cost? After apocalyptic threats, Washington and Tehran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire. It's still unclear whether that will mean a lasting peace. What's more certain is that the US and the world stage have been changed by Trump's war. …

How is the Iran war affecting Russian-Iranian ties? 

The US and Israel's war with Iran has put pressure on Tehran's relations with Moscow. They've been allies, but the Kremlin is seeking to maintain ties with the US to reach a deal on the Ukraine conflict. In this episode:  Afshin Shahi, a Middle East political analyst  Leonid Ragozin, independent j…

Why has Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant been targeted?

Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant has been targeted four times since the US-Israeli war began. Tehran accuses the UN's nuclear watchdog of inaction, which the IAEA rejects, saying the situation is of deep concern. But why are the attacks happening? And what risks do they pose?  In this episode:  …

How is the war on Iran impacting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza?

The war in Iran is worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In violation of the ceasefire, Israel has severely restricted aid and maintained its air strikes. The US-brokered deal is meant to be in Phase 2 but appears to be in limbo. So, who could step in to help Palestinians? In this episode:  D…

How will Pakistan deal with the global energy crisis?

The war in the Middle East has worsened the economic crisis in Pakistan. Most of its energy supplies are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blocked for five weeks. In this episode:  Kaiser Bengali - Economist and former head of the Policy Reform Unit for the Balochistan…

What would it take for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?

Several countries say they will take action against Iran's near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But with no end in sight to the war, what would make Tehran open the waterway? And is using force an option? In this episode:  Hassan Ahmadian, Associate Professor at the University of Tehran Roc…

As support for war fades, what is Israel seeking in Iran?

Israel and the US continue to bomb Iran. But Israeli opinion polls suggest support for the war is dropping, while Iranian missiles still force millions into shelters there. So, what does Israel now seek from attacking Iran, and what could end its onslaught?  In this episode:  Daniel Levy, Presiden…