Episode description

All eyes are on Afghanistan as the Taliban has rapidly taken over the entire country. Most coverage is focused on what this means for the US. But in reality, the West is removed and distant, Iran, on the other hand, is Afghanistan's neighbor and hosts about 2 million official or unofficial Afghan refugees and will likely absorb even more. Iran had a bad relationship with the Taliban in the 90s, which killed its diplomat. Iran now has to deal with this new reality on its border.

To discuss this and other developments in and around Iran, including sanctions, covid, nuclear deal negotiations, and talks with Saudi Arabia, Rania Khalek, was joined by Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and orientalism at the University of Tehran.