Eye For Iran

Iran International English
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From Iran International comes the 'Eye for Iran' podcast, a weekly show that will take listeners beyond the headlines, deep into the Iran stories that matter most. With compelling interviews, expert analysis and high impact investigations, host Negar Mojtahedi examines the latest developments in and around Iran. 

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    'A plea for help': why are Iranian people watching the skies?| Eye for Iran | EP 90

    A high stakes week in Washington raises one question: are we watching “good cop bad cop” diplomacy that is really a prelude to military strikes on the Islamic Republic? After President Donald Trump meets Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US military deployments intensify, Dr. Eric Mandel, founder and director of MEPIN (Middle East Political and Information Network), and Ambassador John Craig, a former American diplomat, unpack the pressure campaign on Tehran, the tight circle around Trump and why one guest calls this moment a prequel to military action. Then the human reality behind the geopolitics. Mina, speaking from Germany with her identity protected, shares what she is hearing from inside Iran after the January 8 and 9 killings, including the story of slain protester Hamid Reza Najari and two imprisoned brothers. She describes a level of desperation many outside Iran struggle to grasp: people monitor air traffic every night hoping intervention is coming because they feel they have no way left to fight a brutal state with empty hands. Finally, former UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sir John Jenkins explains the Persian Gulf states’ private calculations. Many would like Iran to change but fear the consequences of sudden collapse, regional spillover and unpredictable escalation. What are Iran’s neighbors quietly preparing for and how might their interests shape Washington’s next move? Contents for this video: 00:00:00 Opening montage: Iran’s uprising, deaths, desperate pleas 00:00:59 The geopolitics shaping what comes next, Iran’s Arab neighbors, Sir John Jenkins 00:02:19 Interview begins, how Gulf states are reading Tehran after the massacre 00:05:49 The Gulf’s priority: avoiding open-ended conflict, Vision 2030 anxiety 00:09:22 Transitional government talk, referendum idea, Iran as a potential economic giant 00:13:18 Regional map: Israel, UAE, Jordan, Turkey, post-Oct 7 alignments 00:18:44 A new order or a new disorder, keeping Iran weak vs fearing collapse 00:19:36 Who sways Trump, personalized White House, Netanyahu factor, military options 00:23:36 Soleimani and “performative” retaliation, why escalation fears may be overblown 00:25:55 Turkey, Syria, Kurds, and why Ankara fears a powerful Iran 00:36:18 Europe’s role, IRGC networks, snapback, money flows, hostile state activity 00:39:57 Strait of Hormuz, can Iran really close it, China’s interests, mining scenario 00:42:41 Jenkins final thoughts, hope for peaceful regime change 00:43:05 Voices from inside Iran: Mina’s testimony, slain protester and imprisoned brothers 00:43:54 Hamid Reza Najari killed, family misled, body returned after 20 days 00:47:09 Why they protested: a future without the Islamic Republic, chants and hope 00:48:28 Damun and Yashar arrested, fear of silence, families under pressure 00:52:17 The mood inside Iran: “last battle,” nationwide despair, duty to amplify 00:54:11 Munich protests and hope, people inside Iran tracking turnout and weather 00:57:24 Why some plead for intervention, “watching air traffic,” the desperation point 00:59:50 The victims’ lives, “normal life” stolen, why none will be the same 00:01:01:33 Mina’s final message: use freedom outside Iran, stay loud, stay united 00:01:02:47 Trump-Netanyahu meeting: what was decided and what it means for Iran 00:01:03:27 Dr Eric Mandel, inner debates in Trump world, nuclear vs missiles vs proxies 00:01:08:08 Neglecting Iran’s people, why “nuclear-only” deals keep failing 00:01:11:17 Ambassador John Craig: carrier moves, “prequel” to military action 00:01:16:09 What targets could look like, Israel’s role, “accept terms or else” 00:01:17:27 Talks about talks, stalling, and why diplomacy may be a setup for force 00:01:24:05 Who’s in the tight circle, Witkoff, Kushner, Vance, Barrack, Rubio question 00:01:27:07 Regional pressure on Washington, Gulf states, stability argument vs regime fall 00:01:30:14 Final messages to Trump, legacy, midterms, “be unconventional” 00:01:32:20 End of episode #iran #freeiran #netanyahu #trump #iranprotests #iranrevolution #rezapahlavi #nucleardeal #usa #israel

    1h 33m

  2. 5 FEB

    “Day of infamy” and why the regime can’t kill its way out | Eye for Iran | EP 89

    “You cannot kill your way out of this.” That is how Iranian-American historian Abbas Milani describes the Islamic Republic’s response to Iran’s latest uprising, a crackdown he calls unprecedented in modern Iranian history. In this episode of Eye for Iran, Milani explains why mass killing and mass arrests have exposed the regime’s political death rather than restoring control. Drawing on new research documenting thousands of protests across Iran, he argues that fear no longer works, resistance is cumulative and the Islamic Republic cannot survive by violence alone. He also examines the chain of command behind the crackdown, the role of the IRGC and why negotiations with Tehran after mass killings risk throwing a lifeline to a sinking regime. The conversation then turns to the international response with Major Andrew Fox and Jake Wallis Simons, co-hosts of The Brink podcast. Fox, a conflict researcher and senior associate fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, served 16 years in the British Army from 2005 to 2021. Together, they assess whether diplomacy is buying time for Tehran, break down US options and warn that attempts to tame the regime risk normalizing mass killing. The episode concludes with frontline testimony from physicians documenting the human cost of the crackdown. Dr. Homa Fathi and Dr. Panteha Rezaeian of the AIDA Health Alliance describe hospital raids, doctors arrested for treating protesters and a growing epidemic of untreated wounds and preventable deaths as fear keeps the injured away from care. Contents for this video: 00:00 Cold open: “You can’t kill your way out of this” 00:00 Iran’s darkest chapter and the information war 00:02 Doctors targeted for treating protesters 00:02 Abbas Milani: how unprecedented is this crackdown 00:06 Why the regime can’t murder its way to survival 00:08 Friday talks: what is even left to negotiate 00:13 A crackdown planned for decades 00:16 Chain of command: how mass repression is executed 00:19 Tehran’s soft power and influence networks 00:23 Why negotiations fail and what comes next 00:29 Andrew Fox and Jake Wallace-Simons join 00:33 Trump’s options: deal, strikes, or “taming” the regime 00:40 Can a “Maduro model” work in Iran 00:51 Why Trump told protesters “help is coming” 01:00 The information war in Western streets 01:08 Doctors and AIDA Health Alliance: arrests, raids, snipers 01:17 Virtual clinic and the epidemic of infected wounds 01:29 Patients taken mid-treatment and what the world must do 01:34 Closing #iran #iranprotests #freeiran #youtube #news #podcast #trump #negotiations #eyeforiran

    1h 35m

  3. 30 JAN

    Are US strikes now imminent? | Eye for Iran | EP 88

    As President Donald Trump issues a final warning to Tehran and US military assets appear to be moving into place, a defining question emerges: are targeted strikes against the Islamic Republic now around the corner? In this special edition of Eye for Iran, Negar Mojtahedi is joined by four crucial voices as Iran faces an unprecedented moment of crisis and possibility. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus analyzes what potential US and Israeli military action could look like, which targets could weaken the regime’s command structure and what must follow to prevent chaos in a post-Islamic Republic Iran. Human rights activist and former political prisoner Shiva Mahboubi shares disturbing reports of detainees being forcibly injected and killed in custody, a hidden campaign of repression unfolding inside Iran’s prisons. Retired US federal judge Mark Wolf, chair of Integrity Initiatives International, explains how Iranian regime kleptocrats and their enablers could one day be held accountable and how stolen billions abroad may be frozen, seized and repatriated. Finally, analyst Khosrow Esfahani breaks down the regime’s escalating war of narratives and disinformation as Tehran seeks division while Iranians press forward with pain and resolve. Four conversations. One historic turning point. Contents for this video: 00:00 “We Will Win” — Iran’s Uprising Reaches a Breaking Point 00:40 Trump’s Final Warning — Are US Strikes on Tehran Now Imminent? 02:16 Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus — What Targeted Strikes Could Look Like 07:08 Conricus — The World’s Silence as Iran Faces Massacre 10:12 Conricus — “It’s Only a Matter of Time” Before Military Action 17:55 Conricus — Key Targets That Could Collapse the Regime 24:15 Conricus — After the Fall: Preventing Chaos & Securing Transition 28:55 Shiva Mahbobi — Forced Injections & Killings in Iranian Custody 36:26 Mahbobi — What the International Community Must Do Now 41:05 Judge Mark Wolf — Holding Regime Kleptocrats Accountable 44:16 Wolf — Freeze, Seize, Repatriate: Recovering Iran’s Stolen Wealth 54:33 Khosro Isfahani — Tehran’s Disinformation War & Narrative Battle 01:20:07 Isfahani — “Pain, But Resolve” in Iran’s Fight for Freedom #eyeforiran #iran #iranprotests #trump #israel #NUFDI #IslamicRepublic #IRGC #HumanRights #PoliticalPrisoners #IranPrisoners #IranRevolution #Disinformation #accountability

    1h 22m

  4. 23 JAN

    Iran is bleeding: Will the world act now? | Eye for Iran | EP 87

    As Iran’s streets turn into killing fields, the debate in Washington is no longer theoretical. Eye for Iran examines the Islamic Republic’s escalating violence against civilians under a near total digital blackout and asks the most urgent question yet: what will the world do now? Michael Makovsky, President and CEO of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), and Blaise Misztal, the Institute’s Vice President for Policy, argue the United States should pursue one clear objective: regime collapse. They explain why this moment may be a rare strategic window, what collapse could unlock for US policy and regional security and what concrete steps could weaken the regime while supporting Iranians risking their lives. Democracy and internet freedom activist Mehdi Yahyanejad then shares what his sources inside Iran are reporting despite the blackout, including how censorship, propaganda and fear are shaping what the world can and cannot see. He describes the role of Starlink access, the dangers faced by those sending information out and the stories emerging from the crackdown. Finally, Dr. Nazak Tavakoli of the Iranian Association of Human Rights and Allies, political activist Iman Vaez and Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs contributor Sogand Fakheri come together for a deeply personal conversation about grief, resilience and the human cost of this uprising, as families inside Iran vanish into silence and the diaspora struggles to respond. Subscribe for ongoing coverage of Iran’s uprising, the regime’s bloody crackdown and the global decisions that may shape what happens next. Contents of this video: 00:00:00 Cold open: eyewitness accounts under blackout 00:00:25 Opening montage: “war on civilians” framing 00:01:14 Segment 1 teaser: regime collapse argument (Makovsky + Misztal) 00:02:55 Show open + guest introductions (Makovsky, Misztal) 00:03:32 What does “regime collapse” actually mean 00:05:07 Regime change vs. regime collapse: key distinction 00:05:59 What collapse would unlock for US + region 00:09:12 Does this moment have a “window” 00:11:31 Trump red line: credibility, consequences, deterrence 00:15:04 Most effective next step for Washington 00:16:15 Building a long-term “collapse strategy” (comms, defections, pressure) 00:20:41 Mixed signals: Witkoff, negotiation talk, military moves 00:23:55 Where is this headed + closing thoughts (Segment 1 wrap) 00:26:34 Segment 2 intro: Mehdi Yahyanejad (internet freedom + sources inside Iran) 00:27:09 What he’s hearing now: fear, shock, missing loved ones 00:28:51 Starlink pipeline + protecting identities 00:35:29 Paint the picture: escalation, tactics, scale of violence 00:41:32 Disinformation + confusion as a regime tactic 00:49:09 Stories weighing on him most + what Iranians want from the world 00:58:38 Victims + the human toll (Segment 2 wrap) 01:01:03 Segment 3 intro: Nazak Tavakoli, Iman Vaez, Sogand Fakheri 01:01:55 How they’re holding up: trauma, grief, resolve 01:07:03 Family and friends back home: silence, fear, loss 01:11:13 “This is war on unarmed people” 01:11:36 Nazak’s story: legacy, missing contact, waiting for news 01:16:14 Nazak on her father and the long shadow of repression 01:22:03 Iman: messages from inside Iran + the diaspora’s role 01:30:19 Message to Iranians: don’t lose hope 01:32:19 Imagining Iran after: dignity, remembrance, rebuilding 01:34:40 Closing thanks + sign-off + where to follow / newsletter #iran #iranprotests #usa #trump #iranrevolution #freeiran #podcast #iranpodcast #news #youtube #youtubeshorts

    1h 36m

  5. 16 JAN

    Inside Iran's killing spree: eyewitness speaks out | Eye for Iran | EP 86

    An eyewitness who recently fled Iran and whose identity is being withheld for his safety recounts indiscriminate gunfire that turned city streets into a battlefield. He says he saw thousands of bodies stored at a cemetery as families searched for missing loved ones during a nationwide digital blackout. He is risking his life to speak out and send a message to the world that the killings are still ongoing and Iranians urgently need help. He describes witnessing indiscriminate gunfire directed at unarmed civilians, narrowly escaping being shot himself. Eye for Iran host Negar Mojtahedi speaks with Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman about what the United States may do next as Iranian lives hang in the balance. She also speaks with writer and human rights advocate Roya Hakakian on why this moment could mark a historic rupture for Iran and what pressure might reduce further civilian deaths. The program also features Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn Chairman of the Austrian Committee for NATO Enlargement on why he supports the Iranian people and what he believes Europe should do in response. This episode contains disturbing testimony. Contents of this video: 00:00 Eyewitness: “They Started Shooting with Heavy Guns” 01:48 Iran’s Digital Blackout Begins 02:13 Eyewitness Account from Tehran Streets 03:58 Burying the Dead at Behesht Zahra 06:48 “Thousands of Bodies” in Cemetery Warehouses 11:18 Indiscriminate Gunfire Turns Streets Into a Battlefield 14:59 “They Shot into the Crowd” 16:38 Is This a Genocide? 23:28 US Response to Iran’s Violence 23:54 Congressman Marlin Stutzman on Trump and Iran 29:46 Are Regime Officials Preparing an Exit? 34:55 Roya Hakakian: A Historic Rupture 50:36 Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn on Europe and Iran 01:03:37 Final Thoughts and What Comes Next #iran #iranprotests #trump #tehran #iranrevolution #news #podcoast #iranpodcast

    1h 4m

  6. 9 JAN

    Iran on the brink of a revolution: is this the moment? | Eye for Iran | EP 85

    A wounded protester in Iran puts it starkly: “I’m not scared. For 47 years, I’ve been dead.” As protests spread across the country and chants turn openly existential, this special episode of Eye for Iran asks the question many are now asking: is Iran approaching a revolution? Is this the moment? Negar Mojtahedi is joined by former UK Security Minister and Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat, former senior CIA official Norman Roule, Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, and David Patrikarakos, journalist, author and special correspondent for The Daily Mail. Tugendhat argues the Islamic Republic has entered its endgame, warning that Iran’s security forces will be judged by what they do next. Roule explains how Washington is assessing fast-moving unrest and what President Donald Trump’s warnings could mean in practice. Brodsky and Patrikarakos break down why this protest wave feels fundamentally different from 2009 and 2022, what real regime-change momentum looks like, and the decisive question ahead: can street protests translate into a coherent political alternative and meaningful defections inside the system? You can watch this episode on YouTube or listen on any podcast platform of your choosing. You can also switch to Persian captions or any language of your choice on YouTube. Contents for this video: 00:00 “I’m not scared. For 47 years, I’ve been dead.” 01:08 Iran on the brink of revolution: is this it 02:57 “This is the endgame” – Tom Tugendhat 06:15 Why this protest wave is different 09:33 Signs of regime panic and elite exits 13:23 Why the West should care now 18:36 Iran, Venezuela and collapsing proxy power 22:31 Is the West preparing for a post-regime Iran 23:37 Trump’s warning and the red line on repression 25:59 Has the regime’s myth of invincibility shattered 29:50 Former CIA official Norman Roule joins 31:53 Will Trump act if killings escalate 35:26 How relevant is Khamenei today 39:47 Succession battles and IRGC power 44:08 How intelligence reads a system in collapse 51:56 The cost of Western silence 55:47 Why this moment feels different from past protests 01:02:40 Can protests become real regime change 01:09:52 What happened to “Woman, Life, Freedom” 01:21:50 Final reflections: courage, risk and Iran’s future #iran #iranprotests #iranrevolution #eyeforiran #iran #regimechange #middleeast #Geopolitics #WorldPolitics #ForeignPolicy #USIran #news #podcast #youtube #FreeIran

    1h 26m

  7. 2 JAN

    "Mullahs must get lost": Iran protests threaten to topple the theocracy | Eye for Iran | EP 84

    Chants of “Mullahs must get lost” are spreading across Iran six days after a collapsing currency and shuttered bazaars triggered the largest nationwide protests since the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom movement. What began as demonstrations over economic hardship has evolved into a nationwide uprising directly targeting the Supreme Leader, posing one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s theocracy in years. On Eye for Iran, host Negar Mojtahedi asks: Can the Islamic Republic still control the situation — or is something deeper breaking? Joining us: * Shayan Samii — former US government appointee in intelligence and foreign policy * Arash Azizi — journalist and author of What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom * Danny Citrinowicz — former head of the Iran branch in Israeli military intelligence * Alan Eyre — former US State Department Persian-language spokesperson and Iran specialist * Alex Vatanka — Director of the Iran Program, Middle East Institute * Joseph Epstein — Director, Turan Research Center at the Yorktown Institute * Bozorgmehr Sharafedin — Iran International Digital lead and former Reuters journalist We break down: – Who these protesters are — and why bazaaris matter – How economic collapse is fueling anger nationwide – How the Islamic Republic may respond, and what signals to watch next Plus: a deep dive into growing talk of regime change after the Trump–Netanyahu meeting — what Israel actually wants, what Washington is prepared to do and how any external pressure could shape the protests inside Iran. Bozorgmehr also explains why this protest wave may be harder to contain: broader networks, deeper grievances and a regime weakened after the 12-day war and ongoing economic freefall. Will these protests lead to the end of the Islamic Republic? Tell us in the comments. Contents for this video: 00:00 – Cold open: anger over economic collapse 00:23 – Intro: is Iran’s regime nearing the end? 03:45 – Who are the protesters and what do they want? (Shayan) 06:24 – Protests spread nationwide and the leadership vacuum (Arash) 13:19 – No “silver bullet” for Iran’s economic crisis (Danny) 19:00 – Protester courage, opposition factions and Western support 27:29 – Who is on the streets? Gen Z, bazaaris, workers (Arash) 32:55 – Opposition disunity and scenarios for change after Khamenei 44:39 – Regime change versus change from within, and the exiled opposition 54:40 – Does fixing the economy save the regime? (panel wrap) 57:44 – Trump and Netanyahu meeting: is regime change a fantasy? 01:03:04 – How could regime change or system collapse actually unfold? 01:09:41 – Hopelessness inside the regime and IRGC’s next moves 01:13:23 – War scenarios: Iran, Israel, Trump and the next clash 01:18:53 – Ten features that make this protest wave different (Bozorgmehr) 01:25:58 – Bazaaris break with the regime and Iran’s failing state economy 01:34:41 – Comparing this to Women, Life, Freedom and what comes next 01:41:06 – Final thoughts and Eye for Iran newsletter promo #iran #iranprotests #iranuprising #iraneconomy #iranpolitics #trump #netanyahu #israeliran #womenlifefreedom #middleeast #podcast #irgc #usforeignpolicy #iraninternational #eyeforiran #youtube #shorts #middleeast

    1h 42m

  8. 26/12/2025

    Iran 2025: crisis without collapse —Israel, accountability & YouTube creators | Eye for Iran | EP 83

    Iran exits 2025 under visible strain. Direct confrontation with Israel, setbacks to Tehran’s proxy network, and rising domestic pressure have shaken the regime — but not toppled it. In this Eye for Iran special, Avi Melamed, Jay Solomon, and Dr. Shahram Kholdi explain what really changed inside Iran, what didn’t, and the biggest risks heading into 2026 — including potential renewed conflict between Iran, Israel and Hezbollah. We also speak with Shahin Milani, Executive Director of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, about a landmark criminal complaint naming 40 Iranian officials for alleged crimes against humanity during the Women, Life, Freedom protests — and what universal jurisdiction could mean for accountability. And Siavash Rokni, an Iranian pop culture expert joins us to unpack YouTube’s new ad policy, how it has slashed income for Iranian creators, and why it may strengthen the regime’s cultural control despite fewer ads for viewers. Contents for this video: 00:00 — Intro: Iran exits 2025 in crisis — but not collapse 00:46 — Panel begins: What really changed this year? 03:05 — Iranians losing fear — and what that means for the regime 05:54 — Did the 12-Day War with Israel change the balance? 10:22 — Deterrence shattered: Israel vs Iran’s proxy strategy 14:49 — Looking ahead to 2026: escalation risks and miscalculation 27:43 — Predictions: confrontation, diplomacy… or both? 37:18 — Accountability segment: Argentina files landmark case 39:15 — Universal jurisdiction — how Iran’s officials could face charges 44:39 — Victims’ stories and why documenting evidence matters 50:20 — YouTube policy change: Iranian creators lose revenue 54:23 — Culture vs control: how the regime benefits 1:06:57 — Final thoughts & outro — what to watch next #Iran #EyeForIran #WomenLifeFreedom #IranIsrael #MiddleEast #HumanRights #geopolitics #youtube #iran #digitalfreedom #shorts

    1h 7m
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About

From Iran International comes the 'Eye for Iran' podcast, a weekly show that will take listeners beyond the headlines, deep into the Iran stories that matter most. With compelling interviews, expert analysis and high impact investigations, host Negar Mojtahedi examines the latest developments in and around Iran. 

Information

  • Creator
    Iran International English
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Volant Media UK LTD
  • Show Website
    Eye For Iran

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