Middle East Brief with Avi Kaner

A Jewish family built a grand home in Baghdad, Iraq in 1937. France rented it. Today, it still occupies that same home as its embassy. But not by paying the family that built it. By paying the Iraqi government that seized it. In this episode, Avi Kaner tells the story of Beit Lawee, and the much larger story it represents: Who the Lawee family were Jewish life in Iraq before its collapse The Farhu...

There was a time when Jewish tourists traveled to Lebanon. Beirut was a destination. Hotels, restaurants, nightlife. A Mediterranean city that drew people in. This isn’t ancient history. It’s within living memory. In this episode, Avi Kaner looks back at a very different reality between Israel and Lebanon—and what changed. The history of the Jewish community in Lebanon Personal roots in the Becca...

Before we can understand what’s happening between Israel and Lebanon, we need to understand Hezbollah. Because Hezbollah is not just a militia. It’s a system. Part military. Part political. Part economic. And it sits at the center of power inside Lebanon. In this episode, Avi Kaner breaks down: What Hezbollah is and how it was formed How it grew from a militant group into a dominant force Its fina...

At 8 PM, the United States set a clear deadline: reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face consequences. The Iranian regime complied. Oil dropped. Markets rallied. But attacks continued. So what actually happened? In this episode, Avi Kaner breaks down why the Strait reopening was real, but the system behind it did not fully align. Who is actually calling the shots inside the Iranian regime Why complian...

A clock is now part of the conflict. At 8 PM Eastern, a public deadline set by the United States expires. Make a deal or face targeted strikes within hours. But a deeper question is emerging: Who is the United States actually negotiating with? This episode breaks down: Why deadlines compress decisions Why they increase risk Why power inside the Iranian regime may not sit with its public leaders An...

Everyone is watching missiles. Fewer are watching the signals. On X, world leaders are communicating in real time. Not just to inform, but to signal. In this episode, Avi Kaner breaks down how the United States, Israel, and the Iranian regime use public messaging to shape perception, influence adversaries, and manage escalation. Why U.S. signals are fragmented Why the Iranian regime is speaking to...

To understand how power works in Iran, you have to look beyond the government. You have to look at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC. Created after the 1979 revolution, its purpose was not to defend the country. It was to defend the system. Today, it operates across multiple layers: internal security, regional operations, and a vast economic network spanning construction, energy, tele...

To understand how the Iranian regime maintains control, you have to understand the Basij militia. Created after the 1979 revolution, the Basij is not just a security force. It is embedded inside society, operating in neighborhoods, universities, and workplaces to monitor, enforce, and deter dissent. But what makes it different is visibility. In many cases, Iranians know exactly who the Basij are....

A significant portion of the calls for regime change in Iran are coming from outside the country. From the Iranian diaspora. There are roughly 4–5 million Iranians living abroad, with even larger numbers when including the second generation. Many left after the 1979 revolution, while others followed during periods of war, repression, and economic decline. Today, parts of this global community are...

Most of the pre-speech predictions were wrong. Trump’s address on Iran wasn’t about a headline. It was about signaling. While early coverage focused on what was said or not said, the real takeaway was the structure of the message: pressure, optionality, and ongoing action. Overnight reactions followed predictable lines, but something else happened as well. Unsubstantiated claims spread rapidly onl...

Disinformation is now a central battlefield in the Middle East. These campaigns shape perception in real time, influence public opinion, and impact policy decisions. At the same time, major platforms like Al Jazeera, backed by the Qatari regime, amplify and reinforce these narratives at global scale. This is not just a media problem. It is a strategic weapon.

Kharg Island sits at the center of the Iranian regime’s economic lifeline. Oil revenues flowing through this single point fund the army, the IRGC, the Basij, and a network of regional proxies including Hezbollah in Lebanon. As U.S. Marines and other forces move into position, pressure is building. At the same time, the regime is signaling broader escalation while trying to outlast the United State...

Hezbollah escalates from Lebanon. The mullah regime is not trying to win quickly - it is trying to outlast Israel and the United States. Israel signals it will not accept a prolonged war of attrition. What this actually means for the Middle East.