Eye For Iran

Taps are dry. Water barely reaches the second floor. Families endure days without water in brutal summer heat—while the Iranian government holds the solution. In this week's episode of Eye for Iran, climatologist Dr. Nasser Karami exposes how Iran’s water crisis is not just environmental—it’s political. While officials warn that Tehran could run out of water within weeks, Karami explains this is a...

Israel says its strikes in Syria are meant to protect the country’s Druze minority—but they may be creating an opening for Iran. University of Ottawa professor and former Canadian defense analyst Thomas Juneau warns that by weakening Syria’s fragile central government, Israel risks reviving Tehran’s old influence networks tied to the fallen Assad regime. “They are not all dead,” he told Eye for Ir...

For decades, the Islamic Republic sought to erase Iran’s pre-Islamic identity. Now, it’s embracing it. From Cyrus the Great murals to patriotic songs at Shia ceremonies, Tehran is reviving the very nationalism it once suppressed—and experts tell Eye for Iran this shift could signal more than desperation. Could the Islamic Republic's embrace of Persian pride reshape the state—or even lay the ground...

Trump talks peace, Netanyahu warns of war. But are they really divided? Michael Doran, a former White House official and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, joins Eye for Iran with rare insight from inside Blair House, where Israeli and US officials are keeping quiet while strategy is shaped behind closed doors. From covert strikes to rhetorical sleight of hand, this episode unpacks the illusio...

Is this the beginning of the end for Iran’s ruling regime? Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton joins Eye for Iran to unpack Trump’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, the controversial ceasefire, and why he believes now was the time to finish the job. Bolton argues the ceasefire was a mistake that gave Iran breathing room just when the Islamic Republic was most vulnerable. He says Trump...

The threat of a nuclear Iran remains despite US and Israeli strikes crippling key nuclear sites, Olli Heinonen, the former Deputy Director General of the IAEA, told Eye for Iran. Around 400 kilograms—more than 900 pounds—of 60% enriched uranium is unaccounted for. Until the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirms its location, the risk remains high, Heinonen warned, because the material...

Former US Iran envoy Elliott Abrams tells Eye for Iran that Tehran’s nuclear program is doomed—whether through force or negotiation. He explains why Trump’s two-week warning is a deliberate psychological tactic, what role Israel plays, and how Fordow could be targeted in a US strike. Abrams also reveals who’s really in Trump’s inner circle—and why time is running out for Iran. Watch the full inter...

Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli tells Eye for Iran that the massive military operation against Iran—code-named “Rising Lion”—was years in the making and is just the beginning. “This is the time to seize the moment,” says Chikli, urging Iranians to rise against the Islamic Republic. Following Israeli airstrikes that killed top Iranian commanders and hit key nuclear facilities, Iran launched over 20...

In this exclusive episode of Eye for Iran, Congressman Cory Mills reveals what he learned during his high-stakes trip to Damascus—becoming the first US lawmaker to meet Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Mills says Syria’s new leadership is moving fast to dismantle Iran’s regional grip—expelling proxy militias, restricting Hezbollah arms routes, and seeking...

Truckers across Iran are refusing to drive—shutting down ports, blocking highways, and squeezing the economy. But this isn’t just about fuel hikes or wages. It’s a nationwide cry for dignity—and it’s gaining traction fast. Joining host Negar Mojtahedi on Eye for Iran is Nazanin Afshin-Jam, a prominent human rights activist; Alireza Nader, an Iran analyst and former senior researcher at the RAND Co...

In this gripping episode of Eye for Iran, former Palestinian peace negotiator Ghaith al-Omari joins to unpack President Donald Trump’s game-changing Persian Gulf tour. As Saudi Arabia and the UAE race toward prosperity, Iran is stuck in decline—and the message from Washington is clear: change, or be sidelined. Al-Omari draws a stark contrast between future-focused Arab states and Tehran’s ideology...

Iranian women are being tracked by AI and punished by text. In this gripping episode of Eye for Iran, international human rights lawyer Gissou Nia exposes how the Islamic Republic is using surveillance tech to crack down on women—and what can still be done to hold regime officials accountable. From hijab enforcement to universal jurisdiction, justice for atrocity crimes, and how a future transitio...

Trump’s surprise ceasefire with the Houthis caught the Pentagon—and Israel—off guard. What does this signal about US-Israel ties, Iran’s leverage over its proxies, and the future of Trump’s Middle East policy? Eye for Iran brings together top experts Fatima Abo Alasrar, Avi Melamed, Gregory Brew, and Zineb Riboua to unpack what’s really behind the Houthi pause, Iran’s influence, and whether Israel...

With nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran delayed, Congressman Mike Lawler joins Eye for Iran to insist that the US must hold firm: zero uranium enrichment for Iran, no exceptions. He calls for maximum pressure, including a crackdown on Iran’s oil trade with China, and says military options must remain on the table if diplomacy fails. As the rial rebounds and Iranian officials mock US negot...

While Tehran's staunchest critics have criticized US-Iran nuclear talks as legitimizing an irredeemable enemy, a former lead US negotiator in previous talks tells Eye for Iran that diplomacy should be seen as a strategic tool and not a reward. In a candid conversation, Richard Nephew firmly rejected the idea that engagement equals reward. Asked whether sitting down with Iranian officials — after T...

Former Iranian diplomat Hossein Alizadeh tells the Eye for Iran podcast that the Islamic Republic will never abandon its hardline ideology—but will weaponize negotiations with the US as a last resort to stay alive. “It is ideology, flexible ideology. Extremist, but flexible,” Alizadeh said. “Using lies, creating lies—that’s part of their strategy.” Alizadeh, who served in Iran’s Ministry of Foreig...

Tehran and Washington head into high-stakes talks in Oman this weekend that could decide whether the region is headed for detente or all-out war. Will these negotiations open the door to a nuclear deal or mark the beginning of a dangerous escalation? On Eye for Iran, we’ve brought together a powerhouse panel to break it all down: Gabriel Noronha, former Special Advisor for the Iran Action Group at...

In the shadow of President Donald Trump’s threats to strike Iran and following more than a year of punishing Israeli attacks, a battered but unbowed Islamic Republic is plotting its comeback, warns Middle East security analyst Dr. Eric Mandel. “Iran is not giving up,” said Mandel, founder of MEPIN, the Middle East Political Information Network. “Iran's proxies, they may be down—Hezbollah, Hamas, t...

Ordinary Iranians are bearing unprecedented economic pain as their Islamic government's row with its hated enemies Israel and the United States ramps up and Tehran prioritizes military spending to shore up defense and its regional clout. Iran implemented a 200 percent increase in military spending for the Persian year beginning this month and will aim to boost revenue through higher taxes despite...

Iran will witness a turning point this year, marked by what may be the most consequential decision yet to be made by the country’s Supreme Leader. The outcome will likely come down to two options: pursuing a nuclear deal or facing the prospect of war. That’s according to Mark Dubowitz, the CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and a well-known voice on Iran policy. He told Eye for...

Iran and Russia seem closer than ever since Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with Tehran emerging as a key supplier of drones and missiles to Moscow. However, journalist Tanya Lukyanova suggests this partnership may not be as solid as it appears, especially as shifting geopolitical tides—including Donald Trump’s return to the White House—reshape global dynamics. With a Russia-Ukraine cea...

Global alliances are in flux as President Donald Trump casts doubt on U.S. commitments. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, a 40-year insurgency between Turkey and the outlawed PKK has ended in a ceasefire. Ankara has reportedly offered peacekeepers to Ukraine, contingent on a war-ending agreement. As Turkey navigates domestic challenges, it could seek to replace Iran as the dominant regional power...

To understand why a peaceful resolution between Israel and Palestine remains so elusive, one must first recognize that the conflict extends far beyond the two peoples directly involved. Regional powers, particularly Iran, play a pivotal role in sustaining the turmoil, award-winning author and foreign correspondent Yardena Schwartz told Eye for Iran. According to Schwartz, the plight of the Palesti...

Sina Azodi, an expert on U.S.-Iran relations, told the Eye for Iran podcast that Iran could rebuild nuclear facilities hit by air attacks which would delay but not resolve the crisis. Azodi's analysis comes as Israel weighs striking Iran’s nuclear sites, per U.S. intelligence assessments cited by The Wall Street Journal in February. Iran could rebuild nuclear facilities hit by air attacks within 6...

US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Hamas is doomed to fail unless Tehran is under threat and faces consequences, a former US Intelligence officer and military adviser told Iran International. This comes after Trump set a deadline to return all the hostages in Gaza and warned that “all hell will break out” if the Israeli hostages are not freed by the weekend. Michael Pregent, appearing on Eye...