The Iran Podcast

Negar Mortazavi speaks to ⁠Dina Esfandiary⁠, Senior Advisor for Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group, about the new agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia that was brokered by China, Tehran’s shifting regional policy in the Middle East, and its continuous move towards the East and away from the West.

Iran Podcast is fiscally sponsored by the ⁠Center for International Policy⁠ in Washigton.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and a lecturer in international affairs at George Washington University, about US-Iran tensions, possibilities for nuclear diplomacy and prisoner swaps, Iran’s domestic repression and shift to the East, and a new geo-political landscape in the Middle East.

Iran Podcast is sponsored by the Center for International Policy in Washington.

Welcome to the new season of Iran Podcast. In this episode Negar Mortazavi, journalist and Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy, speaks to Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver, about the recent mass uprising in Iran that started after the killing of Mahsa Jina Amini in September 2022.

Iran Podcast is sponsored by the ⁠Center for International Policy⁠ in Washington.

Negar Mortazavi joined David Swanson on Talk World Radio to discuss US-Iran relations and the latest in nuclear negotiations. This conversation was recorded on July 26th. 

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Tom Collina, Policy Director at Ploughshares Fund, about the war in Ukraine, how nuclear weapons enabled Russia’s attack, and why the JCPOA is a good deal.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Negar Mortazavi joined Alicia McBride and Jack Gordon on Tacoma Radio to discuss US-Iran diplomacy and nuclear disarmament. The program is called Interfaithish that brings people of different beliefs and cultural backgrounds together to talk about our commonalities and differences.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support 

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Zahra Tabatabai, founder and CEO of Back Home Beer, who is brewing beer in New York with flavors from Iran that are inspired by her grandfather’s old recipes. She uses ingredients sourced from the Middle East like Sumac, sour cherries, and a special Persian blue salt that is mined in Iran.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Mark Fitzpatrick, former acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Non-Proliferation, about Russia’s attack on Ukraine, threats of a nuclear standoff, the Budapest Memorandum, Chernobyl, and the current Iran nuclear talks in Vienna.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Negar Mortazavi and Tom O’Connor discuss the final stage of the nuclear talks, and the importance of domestic politics in Tehran and Washington, hosted on Twitter Space with host Saeed Azimi.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

A conversation hosted on Los Angeles Public Radio about Biden’s nuclear diplomacy with Iran and opposition from Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, with Estee Chandler and Assal Rad.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

A conversation about the dehumanization of Iranians in US political discourse, media coverage, and cultural products, and how it leads to bad policies that harm Iranians in Iran as well as Iranian-Americans in the United States. Negar Mortazavi moderated this live conversation on Twitter Space with Assal Rad from NIAC, Niki Akhavan from Catholic University, and Pouya Alimagham from MIT.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

A conversation about the dehumanization of Iranians in US political discourse, media coverage, and cultural products, and how it leads to bad policies that harm Iranians in Iran as well as Iranian-Americans in the United States. Negar Mortazavi moderated this live conversation on Twitter Space with Assal Rad from NIAC, Niki Akhavan from Catholic University, and Pouya Alimagham from MIT.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Vali Nasr, former US advisor for Afghanistan, about the current state of Afghanistan after two decades of invasion and the chaotic US withdrawal, devastating economic sanctions and new waves of refugees, and the future of the country under Taliban rule.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

A conversation about US-Iran relations, nuclear negotiations, the impact of sanctions, and the difficult path ahead for diplomacy. This conversation was recorded live on Twitter Spaces with Trita Parsi from Quincy Institute, Ryan Costello from NIAC, and Sara Haghdoosti from Win Without War, and moderated by Negar Mortazavi.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Negar Mortazavi talks about the latest developments in the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna in two interviews on NPR and Democracy Now! We also hear a message from our listener & supporter, Justice Arman in Texas.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

A discussion about the current nuclear negotiations in Vienna and the future of the Iran nuclear deal, with Negar Mortazavi, Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute, and Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute, moderated by Bruce Fein and hosted by the National Interest Foundation in Washington DC.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Panel discussion at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor’s School of Public Policy with Negar Mortazavi, John Limbert, Hesham Alghannam, David Des Roches, and moderated by Dania Thafer of the GIF.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Negar Mortazavi joins Angie Seth on Canadian television CTV to discuss racist and misogynistic attacks on female journalists across the world.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Iranian-American actor Arian Moayed about playing an Iranian billionaire in the television show Succession and other roles in television and theater, growing up in America as an immigrant, and the future of US-Iran relations.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Iran Podcast host Negar Mortazavi joins an expert panel to discuss the future of Iran-Saudi relations. Panel was hosted by the Institute for Gulf Affairs in Washington DC with Barbara Slavin from Atlantic Council, Alex Vatanka from Middle East Institute, Fuad Ibrahim from DAWN, and Annelle Sheline from Quincy Institute.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Danny Postel, Assistant Director of the Center for International and Area Studies at Northwestern University, about Iran’s anti-revolutionary policy in the Middle East, specifically looking at the Islamic Republic's role in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.

This is a special episode about Iran’s presidential election. It was recorded at a panel discussion hosted by Friends of Europe, with two Iran experts Azadeh Zamirirad and Rouzbeh Parsi, and moderated by Negar Mortazavi.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Rouzbeh Parsi about the significance of Iran’s upcoming presidential election, deep voter apathy and frustration, and why the hardline candidate Ebrahim Raisi should thank Donald Trump if he wins the election.

(Music by 127 - Design by Mina Jafari)

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Nazanin's husband Richard Ratcliffe, and their member of parliament Tulip Siddiq, about Nazanin's five-year detention in Iran, the pattern of hostage diplomacy by the Iranian government, the UK's £400m tank debt to Iran, and a family's years-long fight for freedom.

(Music by 127 Band - Design by Mina Jafari) 

Negar Mortazavi speaks to comedian Maz Jobrani about comedy in the Covid19 era, being an immigrant in America and a Middle Easterner in Hollywood, and how Maz lost some friends and fans in the Trump era.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director of DAWN, about the latest cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, what the United States can do to help improve human rights and peace across the Middle East, and the Biden administration’s policy towards friends and foes in the region.

Iran Podcast is produced by Joshua Barlow. Theme music is by 127. Logo art is by Mina Jafari.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Negar Mortazavi speaks to political anthropologist Negar Razavi about the systemic problem of “Iran expertise” in Washington, how the U.S. foreign policy establishment has created a culture of expert impunity when it comes to Iran, the role of these experts and think tanks in shaping U.S. policies, and why those who provide nuance on Iran are constantly attacked and smeared.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Congressman Ro Khanna about U.S. policy in the Middle East, the Biden administration’s diplomacy with Iran, the impact of U.S. sanctions on tech companies and users, increasing toxicity on social media and platform accountability, the rise of far right extremism in the United States, and the chances of Donald Trump becoming President again.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Peter Beinart about sanctions and how the United States has been using this tool to choke weaker adversaries, pressuring large populations without much policy gain.

Subscribe to The Beinart Notebook on Substack: peterbeinart.substack.com

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Paul Pillar, veteran CIA analyst, about heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, the possibility of a military conflict, and the future of US-Iran diplomacy after Trump.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Mani Mostofi, Director of Miaan Group, about the recent execution of Ruhollah Zam, the international mechanism of human rights, and how to hold abusers accountable.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Sina Azodi from the Atlantic Council about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the history of continuity in the country’s nuclear program since it started under the Shah and continued under the Islamic Republic.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Azadeh Zamirirad, Deputy Head of Middle East and Africa at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, about Europe’s role in diplomacy between Iran and the US, how the Europeans helped nuclear negotiations succeed in the past and what they can do to help deescalate tensions and restart diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Hooman Majd, an Iranian-American author and journalist, about contemporary Iranian politics. He was born in a diplomatic family before the 1979 revolution in Iran, attended school in Europe, and now lives in New York. He has written three books on Iran; The Ayatollah Begs to Differ (2008), The Ayatollahs’ Democracy (2010), and The Ministry of Guidance Invites You to Not Stay (2013).

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with John Ghazvinian, Executive Director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania, about the history of US-Iran relations over the past few centuries since 1720, and how the two countries went from mutual admiration and close ties to mutual hatred. 

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Murtaza Hussain from The Intercept and Eli Clifton from Responsible Statecraft about a State Department project called IRAN DISINFO that attacked journalists and academics who were critical of Trump's Iran policy, as well as a fake online persona called Heshmat Alavi that is run by the MEK and has been retweeted by Donald Trump.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Azadeh Shahshahani, Legal and Advocacy Director at Project South, about Donald Trump’s Travel Ban on Iranians and other nations, how political tensions between Washington and Tehran impact Iranians living in and traveling to the US, and FBI’s surveillance of Iranians and other Muslim communities in the US.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Nahid Siamdoust, visiting Assistant Professor at Harvard University, about music after the 1979 revolution in Iran through the Iran-Iraq war, the post-war era of pop music, political music inspired by the 2009 green movement, and today's musicians in the diaspora, in memory of legendary Iranian singer the late Mohammadreza Shajarian. (Music by Shajarian, Koveitipoor, Shabpareh, Parnaz&Ashkan).

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. 

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Asieh Namdar, a news anchor at CGTN America and a former anchor at CNN, about immigrating to the U.S. as a child in the height of the 1979 revolution and the hostage crisis in Iran, being one of the first Iranian-Americans on television, and dealing with toxic attacks on journalists online.

(Music by 127)

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Hadi Ghaemi, founder and Executive Director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, about the execution of a young wrestler named Navid Afkari in Iran, ongoing protests against the government, how the state is using violence to crack down on protesters, and human rights violations in the Islamic Republic since the eve of the 1979 revolution.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, about political participation in the Trump era and why the largest Iranian-American grassroots organization decided to endorse Biden for President.

(Music by 127)

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Sussan Tahmasebi, Iranian-American feminist and Director of FEMENA, about a Me Too moment in Iran as a large number of women and men on social media are breaking taboos and sharing stories of sexual abuse.

(Music by 127)

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Behdad Esfahbod, an Iranian-Canadian computer engineer who has worked for Facebook and Google. Behdad was arrested on a personal trip to Iran and was pressured by the IRGC to spy for them. He was imprisoned and put in solitary confinement for one week and asked about internet freedom and activists outside Iran who work to help Iranian users circumvent government censorship in Iran. 

*This special episode was recorded live on Instagram.

We speak with Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute on how Obama’s diplomacy with Iran succeeded, why Trump has not been able to bring Iran to the negotiating table, and how a Biden administration should engage with Iran.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Michael Singh, Managing Director at the Washington Institute, about the Trump administration’s Iran policy and the future of the JCPOA under a second Trump term or a Biden presidency. 

(Music by 127)

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Thomas Juneau, associate professor at the University of Ottawa and former analyst at Canada's Department of National Defence, about diplomatic relations between Iran and Canada over the past decades and key events that have impacted Ottawa's policy towards Tehran.

(Music by 127)

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Narges Bajoghli, an anthropologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University, about how the Islamic Republic uses media to shape narratives in Iran and beyond its borders, how diaspora media provide competitive narratives, how American media cover Iran, and why Iran is still poorly understood in the US.

(Music by 127)

We speak to Barbara Slavin, Director of the Future Iran initiative at Atlantic Council, about Iran's reaction to racial justice protests across the US, prisoner swaps between Iran and the US, Iran’s loan request from IMF and US attempts to block it, US trying to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran, and the future of US-Iran tensions if Biden is elected.

(Music by 127)

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Bijan Khajehpour, an economist and a managing partner at EUNEPA, about Covid19 in Iran and how the pandemic combined with US sanctions have seriously impacted Iran's economy.

(Music by 127)