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 talks to Tyler Cullis about four decades of U.S. sanctions on Iran, the effectiveness of this policy tool, the human cost of sanctions, and how the Iranian-Americna community and the civil society have been pushing back against sanctions.
Negar Mortazavi talks to Sina Toosi about the upcoming presidential election in Iran, the mass disqualification of moderate and reformist candidates, and how the hardliner Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi is seen as the candidate set to win the race.
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.
Foreign Policy magazine has a podcast called Foreign Policy Playlist, which picks the best podcasts from around the world and introduces them to their listeners. And our Iran Podcast was recently featured on Foreign Policy Playlist. Jonathan Tepperman, Editor at Large of Foreign Policy, talked to Negar Mortazavi about the Iran Podcast, then played one of our episodes: The Ayatollahs No Longer Differ, a conversation with Hooman Majd.
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 Terrell Starr, host of the Black Diplomats podcast, about US foreign policy and media. Then we will hear an episode of his podcast about Building Peace with Iran, where Negar Mortazavi was a guest.
Negar Mortazavi speaks with Roya Khadjavi, a New York-based curator who showcases young and emerging artists from Iran. Roya talks about her mission to introduce new generations of Iranian artists to the West, and how US-Iran tensions impact her work and the life of these young artists.
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 to Sima Shakhsari and Assal Rad about a new grassroots movement in the US against sanctions on Iran. A coalition of Iranian-American academics, activists, and artists is trying to pressure the Biden administration to lift sanctions on Iran. *Music by Aida Shahghasemi.
Negar Mortazavi speaks with Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif about the current impasse in diplomacy between Tehran and Washington and a sequence of return to the nuclear deal; President Biden’s interest in follow-on negotiations on Iran’s missile program, regional presence and human rights; Iran’s fight against Covid19 and plans for mass vaccination; the IRGC shooting down of the Ukrainian plane last year; and whether Zarif will run for president. *This interview was recorded for Politico ma...
Negar Mortazavi talks to Borzou Daragahi, International Correspondent for The Independent who has been covering conflicts in the Middle East for two decades. They discuss the current impasse in US-Iran diplomacy, the war in Syria, corruption in Lebanon, rivalry between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and new friendships between Israel and Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
Negar Mortazavi speaks to Mohsen Milani, Founding Executive Director of Center for Strategic & Diplomatic Studies at University of South Florida, about the 1979 revolution in Iran, America’s position towards the revolution and the significance of the hostage crisis, and today’s situation in Iran and similarities and differences with the years leading to 1979.
Negar Mortazavi speaks to Nancy Gallagher, Director of the Center for International and Security Studies at University of Maryland, about Iranian public opinion on Covid19, economy, nuclear policy, regional security, and domestic politics, based on two in-depth surveys fielded in September-October 2020 and January-February 2021.
Negar Mortazavi speaks to John Glaser, director of foreign policy at the Cato Institute, about America's role in the world and the case for Restraint in US foreign policy that calls for reducing America's global military presence and decades of wars and armed intervention in the Middle East. (Interview was recorded on February 23) Producer: Joshua Barlow - Music: 127Band
Negar Mortazavi speaks to Fatemeh Keshavarz, Director of School of Languages and Cultures at University of Maryland, about the importance of people-to-people exchanges with Iran, the role of arts and culture in making bridges, how the poetry of Rumi and Hafez and other prominent Persian poets has lived on for centuries, and about her life growing up in the city of Shiraz. Music by 127Band
Negar Mortazavi speaks to Ambassador John Limbert, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iran and one of the last US diplomats to serve in Tehran where he was taken hostage in 1979. They discuss four decades of animosity between Tehran and Washington and how both sides have been wrestling with the ghosts of history.
Negar Mortazavi speaks to Kelsey Davenport, Director of Nonproliferation at the Arms Control Association, about the current state of Iran’s nuclear program, the limits set by the JCPOA, Iran’s past nuclear activities, and the path forward for a full return to the Iran nuclear deal.
Negar Mortazavi speaks to Matt Duss, foreign policy adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders, about a progressive vision for US foreign policy towards the Middle East, two decades after 9/11 and the global war on terror.
Negar Mortazavi speaks to Erica Moret about the effectiveness of sanctions as a foreign policy tool, the various different types of sanctions, and their humanitarian impact on targeted countries. (Music by 127)
Negar Mortazavi speaks with Michael Page from Human Rights Watch about the Ukraine International Flight PS752 that was shot down by IRGC missiles over Tehran on 8 January 2020, and the year-long fight for truth and justice.
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 1...
