The UAE’s arrest of dozens linked to the IRGC’s sanctions-evasion network could mark one of the biggest blows yet to Tehran’s economic lifeline. Former U.S. Treasury sanctions strategist Miad Maleki, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) Research Director Daniel Roth, and Iran International senior economic journalist Mohammad Machine-chian break down what this could cost the regime — and whether it could cripple Tehran’s ability to fund repression, proxies and sanctions evasion. Then Republican strategist, former Bal Harbour, Florida Mayor and Standpoint podcast host Gabe Groisman unpacks what President Trump’s Iran speech really signaled, who the message was intended for and whether “strategic ambiguity” is part of the plan. Plus, Iran International journalist Azadeh Akbari reveals new findings from a special report showing the regime moved weapons and personnel into at least 70 civilian sites, including schools. You can watch this week's episode of Eye for Iran or listen on any podcast platform. Chapters: 00:00 Trump’s Iran Speech and What It Really Means 00:35 UAE Arrests IRGC-Linked Money Changers 01:31 Special Report: Regime Used 70 Civilian Sites 02:06 How Important Is Dubai to Tehran’s Survival? 05:35 Why the UAE Is Cracking Down Now 07:26 How Much Money Is the Regime Set to Lose? 12:56 Can This Disrupt Iran’s Global Money Laundering? 17:48 Iran’s Other Financial Lifelines: Turkey, Erbil, Herat 19:34 Impact on Proxies, Repression, and the Rial 22:02 Political Fallout for Iran-UAE Relations 24:11 Tehran’s Strategic Miscalculation 28:57 Gabe Groisman on Trump’s Iran Speech 32:10 Trump’s Tone: Planned, Measured, Strategic 34:11 Is Trump Using Strategic Ambiguity? 37:52 Was Trump Also Sending a Message to Tehran? 39:08 Regime Change: Goal or Byproduct? 42:26 Strait of Hormuz and Regional Allies 46:30 October 7 and Iran’s Biggest Miscalculation 49:13 Why Trump Didn’t Mention Oman 50:24 Was Trump’s Speech Escalatory? 52:59 Could Ground Troops Still Be on the Table? 55:05 Trump vs Netanyahu on Messaging 58:55 Special Report: Weapons Moved Into Schools and Civilian Sites 59:13 How Iran International Verified the Investigation 01:03:46 Are Civilians Being Used as Human Shields? 01:07:05 Children Put in Harm’s Way 01:08:15 What This Says About the Regime’s Wartime Doctrine #iran #uae #money #sanctions #trump #usa #iranian #HumanShields #israel #war #iranwar #news #podcast #shorts #youtube

UAE hits Iran’s economic lifeline | Decoding Trump’s speech | Special report| Eye for Iran | EP 97 |

In episode 103 of Eye for Iran, Mohamad Machine-Chian is filling in for Negar Mojtahedi.  In this episode, Holly Dagres, senior fellow at Washington Institute discusses the continued internet blackout in Iran.  Operation Epic Fury may be over but Operation Economic Fury is just getting started. Siamak Javadi, from Texas University explains what's next for Iran’s economy.#iraninternational #Iraninternational #ایران_اینترنشنال

Can Iran’s Economy Survive the Internet Blackout and Economic Fury? | Eye for Iran 103

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports continues. Can Tehran weaponize Hormuz for years to come? Are Iranian oil fields nearing the point of no return?  In episode 102 of Eye for Iran, two energy experts assess the potential scenarios ahead. #Iraninternational #ایران_اینترنشنال

The price of oil and the future of Hormuz

An Iran International exclusive has triggered a political firestorm in Ottawa — after Mehdi Taj, Iran’s football chief and a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence commander, was granted entry into Canada despite being legally inadmissible under the country’s own terrorist designation. Taj was issued a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) — a rare override used to bypass national security inadmissibility — allowing him to travel to Vancouver for a FIFA Congress. But after the story broke and public pressure mounted, he was stopped at the airport and sent back. Now, Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing mounting questions: Who approved the permit? Why was an IRGC-linked figure allowed in? And did the government only act after being exposed? Melissa Lantsman, Deputy Leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, joins Eye for Iran to demand accountability, warning that this case exposes deeper failures in Canada’s immigration system, national security screening and enforcement of its own IRGC terror listing. But this story doesn’t stop at Canada. At the same time, the UK is facing a surge in violent attacks targeting Jewish communities — including a stabbing in Golders Green, attempted synagogue firebombings and arson attacks on Jewish ambulances. British authorities are now investigating whether these attacks are linked to Iran and a shadow network known as HAYI (Harakat al-Shabab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah). Alex Winston of The Jerusalem Post explains why intelligence officials fear this reflects a broader Iranian strategy: proxy networks, online radicalization and sleeper cells recruited across Europe Len Khodorkovsky, former U.S. State Department official, breaks down the war of narratives, Trump’s warning to Iran and how the regime is using internet blackouts and information control to hide unrest and shape global perception. This episode connects the dots between immigration policy, terrorism and the Islamic Republic’s global reach — and asks critical questions. Guests: Melissa Lantsman, Len Khodorkovsky, Alex Winston Host: Negar Mojtahedi Program: Eye for Iran Eye for Iran is a podcast series brought you by Iran International that takes you beyond the headlines and brings you the Iran stories that matter most. Chapters: 00:00 Opening Highlights | Taj turned away, Trump warning, UK Jewish attacks 02:15 Melissa Lantsman | How did Mehdi Taj get a permit? 03:25 Melissa Lantsman | “Somebody issued him a permit” 05:16 Melissa Lantsman | IRGC concerns in Canada 07:42 Melissa Lantsman | “They circumvented the rules” 08:51 Melissa Lantsman | Who approved Taj’s entry? 10:09 Melissa Lantsman | Canada’s privacy excuse 11:27 Melissa Lantsman | Parliament demands answers 12:09 Melissa Lantsman | Did Canada act only after being exposed? 13:41 Melissa Lantsman | Canada’s wider IRGC problem 15:44 Melissa Lantsman | Ottawa’s confusing response 16:47 Melissa Lantsman | What happens next? 18:47 Alex Winston | UK Jewish attacks and possible Iran links 19:41 Alex Winston | Golders Green, synagogue firebombings and HAYI 20:07 Alex Winston | Iran’s external operations playbook 22:30 Alex Winston | Telegram, IRGC-linked media and proxy networks 24:03 Alex Winston | Why proving Iran links is difficult 26:39 Alex Winston | Was HAYI born out of the war? 27:38 Alex Winston | How Iran takes the war to the West 29:45 Alex Winston | Is the West waking up? 30:51 Alex Winston | Is regime change the only solution? 32:38 Alex Winston | Where the war could go next 36:01 Alex Winston | Fears of more sleeper-cell attacks 38:02 Len Khodorkovsky | Iran, messaging and information warfare 38:27 Len Khodorkovsky | America’s message to Iran’s regime and people 42:00 Len Khodorkovsky | Iran’s internet blackout and the battle for truth 46:10 Len Khodorkovsky | Western media narratives and the Iran war 52:06 Len Khodorkovsky | Trump’s warning and negotiation strategy 56:00 Len Khodorkovsky | Iran’s people, blackout and Western silence 59:42 Len Khodorkovsky | Prince Reza Pahlavi, the press and agenda-driven narratives 01:01:51 Len Khodorkovsky | How journalism standards have changed 01:05:15 Len Khodorkovsky | How audiences should consume news today 01:08:05 Closing Remarks | Final thoughts and newsletter details #iran #irgc #fifa #iranwar #operationepicfury #canada #usa #trump #carney #immigration #uk #jewish #israel #youtube #shorts #podcast #news #middleeast

Canada let Iran football chief linked to IRGC in — then got caught | Eye for Iran | EP 101|

Veteran journalist Eli Lake of The Free Press and host of the Breaking History podcast joins Eye for Iran to discuss real fractures inside Iran’s regime, why Tehran’s leadership may be turning on itself and how internal power struggles could eventually bring down the Islamic Republic from within. Lake says Iran’s rulers now need a deal more than Washington does, and argues any negotiations should begin with restoring internet access, freeing political prisoners and ending executions. Lake also offers hope for Iran’s future, saying the Iranian people remain the country’s greatest strength: “You cannot keep these people down.” Hudson Institute research fellow Zineb Riboua then breaks down China’s growing anxiety over the Strait of Hormuz, Beijing’s weakening leverage over Tehran, Iran-China ties and whether Operation Epic Fury is really about weakening China’s position in the Middle East. Finally, Iran International journalist Shervin Shahrestani reveals his major investigation into Iran’s expanding influence network in Kashmir and India, including ideological outreach, funding networks and why some call the region a “Mini Iran.” A special 100th episode covering Iran regime fractures, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, China, the IRGC and the fight for Iran’s future. Contents for this video: 00:00 Intro: Tehran Turns on Itself? Fractures in Iran’s Regime 02:16 Eli Lake Joins Eye for Iran 02:38 What Is Really Happening Between US and Iran? 05:25 Why Give Tehran More Time? 06:03 Eli Lake: Put Iranian People First 07:56 Any Deal Must Include Internet & Prisoners 11:51 Xi Jinping Pressures Tehran Over Hormuz 12:57 Are Iran’s Internal Fractures Real? 17:35 Can the Islamic Republic Fall From Within? 24:38 Why Even Ahmadinejad Is Criticizing the Regime 27:56 How Change Could Happen Inside Iran 32:54 Biggest Bet: Collapse From Within 34:43 Are Negotiations Psychological Warfare? 36:03 Iran’s Nuclear Program & What Comes Next 40:25 Eli Lake: “You Cannot Keep These People Down” 46:01 Eli Lake on His Iran Podcast Series 52:31 Zineb Riboua Joins Eye for Iran 52:32 Why China Suddenly Spoke on Strait of Hormuz 56:30 Beijing’s Weakness Exposed? 58:32 Is China Panicking? 01:02:16 What China Stands to Lose 01:05:28 Is Operation Epic Fury Really About Weakening China? 01:07:45 Are US and Israel Fully Aligned? 01:09:22 What to Watch Next: Gulf States & China 01:12:27 Shervin Shahrestani Joins Eye for Iran 01:13:00 Iran’s Influence Network in Kashmir 01:15:02 Why Kashmir Is Called “Mini Iran” 01:19:54 How Tehran Builds Influence in India 01:22:30 Security Risks: Sleeper Cells & Lone Wolves? 01:26:21 Why This Story Matters Now 01:28:19 Is Iran More Dangerous After the War? 01:30:16 Final Thoughts / Subscribe #iran #iranwar #israel #trump #nuclear #podcast #news #usa #youtube #shorts #middleeast

Tehran turns on itself as Iran’s regime fractures | Eye for Iran | EP 100 |

A fragile ceasefire may be holding between the United States and Iran — but is the war really over, or just paused? As the Strait of Strait of Hormuz reopens after weeks of disruption, new questions are emerging about the true impact of the conflict: who’s actually winning, how much pressure the Islamic Republic is under, and whether this moment leads to a deal — or another round of escalation. On this episode of Eye for Iran, Charlie Brown, Senior Advisor at United Against Nuclear Iran, and Dr. Iman Nasseri, Managing Director for the Middle East at FGE, break down the maritime and economic battlefield — from Iran’s shadow fleet and sanctions evasion networks to the real timeline for when a blockade actually hits Tehran’s economy. We also examine the nuclear file with Dr. David Albright, Founder of the Institute for Science and International Security, who warns that while Iran’s ability to build a bomb may have been set back, its incentive to pursue one could be growing. And in a stunning regional development, Lebanon and Israel hold direct talks for the first time in decades. Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explains what this could mean for Hezbollah, Lebanon’s sovereignty, and whether Iran’s grip on the region is beginning to weaken. Is this the beginning of the end — or just the calm before the next phase of conflict? Watch Eye for Iran. Recorded just before the Strait of Hormuz reopened, offering a real-time snapshot of a rapidly shifting situation. Chapters: 00:00 Is the Iran war really over? 00:39 Hormuz reopens: what it means now 02:07 Conflicting narratives: is Iran winning or losing? 03:22 Can Iran survive the blockade? 05:15 How long until sanctions actually hit? 07:54 What’s really happening at sea right now 11:44 Will the next 10 days change everything? 15:11 Is Iran still making money from oil? 17:32 Shadow fleet & sanctions evasion explained 19:01 Shadow banking crackdown: does it work? 22:10 U.S. strategy: pressure or regime change? 26:19 What’s the endgame here? Nuclear file segment 32:16 Can Iran still build a nuclear weapon? 36:54 Could Iran be hiding enriched uranium? 43:23 Is Iran now a greater long-term threat? 49:09 Where do global powers stand? 53:52 Why regime change isn’t so simple 57:59 What has this war actually achieved? 01:03:32 Missiles, drones & future threats 01:06:12 Are we heading toward another war? Lebanon / regional shift segment 01:06:35 Historic Lebanon-Israel talks explained 01:08:39 Is Lebanon breaking away from Iran? 01:10:42 Does Hezbollah still have power? 01:11:52 What do Lebanese people really think? 01:15:26 How Lebanese view Iran’s role 01:17:54 Iran’s internal divisions revealed 01:19:02 Decoupling Lebanon from Iran 01:23:32 Is Iran weakening across the region? 01:27:02 Could Lebanon normalize with Israel? 01:29:57 Final thoughts & what comes next #Iran #IranWar #MiddleEast #StraitOfHormuz #Hormuz #OilMarkets #Geopolitics #USIran #Israel #Lebanon #Hezbollah #NuclearDeal #EnergyCrisis #BreakingNews #EyeForIran

Iran war: ceasefire holds, Strait of Hormuz reopens — what now? | Eye for Iran | EP 99 |

A fragile ceasefire appears to be in place between Iran and the United States, but is it really a ceasefire, or simply a brief pause before a new phase of conflict? In this episode of Eye for Iran, former CIA analyst and former National Security Council director Ken Pollack explains why he believes both sides may not have agreed to the same terms, and why the current moment could still lead to renewed escalation. He also warns that if this war ends with the regime intact, the Iranian people may once again be left to pay the price. Then, writer, activist, and Middle East expert Dalia Ziada breaks down the regional fallout. She explains why many Arab states, especially in the Gulf, feel sidelined despite being directly affected by the conflict, and why frustration is also growing over Pakistan’s role. Finally, investigative reporter Jay Solomon joins us to discuss his months-long investigation into Calla Walsh, the 21-year-old American activist who has become a prominent voice amplifying the Iranian regime’s narrative. How did her radicalization happen, and why does it matter? Watch the full episode of Eye for Iran, and subscribe for more in-depth interviews and analysis. Contents for this video: 00:00 Fragile ceasefire or pause before escalation? 01:42 Ken Pollack joins: what this “ceasefire” really means 03:24 Why Washington and Tehran are talking past each other 07:05 Will the Iranian people be abandoned again? 13:27 What a new phase of war could look like 17:24 Trump’s messaging to the people of Iran 23:02 Is regime change still possible? 30:51 Why Gulf states may move closer to Israel 36:51 Dalia Ziada: regional fallout and Arab frustration 39:11 Could this accelerate Arab-Israeli alignment? 44:02 Pakistan’s role and Saudi disappointment 47:08 Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Iran’s regional reach 49:37 Qatar rethinking ties to Tehran? 52:10 Jay Solomon: who is Calla Walsh? 54:29 Cuba, radicalization, and Tehran’s influence 01:00:36 How Walsh became part of Iran’s narrative machine 01:05:14 Why Gen Z radicalization should worry the West 01:07:37 Is this Iran exporting its revolution? 01:09:46 Subscribe for more Eye for Iran #iran #usa #israel #war #ceasefire #pakistan #youtube #shorts #youtubeshorts #news #podcast #middleeast

Iran-US ceasefire: pause before escalation or deal? | Eye for Iran | EP 98 |

A war already underway — now entering a more dangerous phase. We begin with Iran’s reported strike toward Diego Garcia — a moment that signals something critical: this threat is no longer abstract. It is real. Defense experts Farzin Nadimi of The Washington Institute and Janatan Sayeh of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) break down what this reveals about Iran’s capabilities — from vast underground missile networks, some “the size of small cities,” to a growing global threat. As Sayeh warns, “Iranian missiles and drones were already being used on European soil through Russia — now the regime itself can launch them directly from Iranian territory.” Then — what comes next. Former US State Department official Joel Rubin and foreign policy expert Dr. Walid Phares analyze the global response and the role of diplomacy as well as signs the conflict may be moving toward a broader escalation. Reacting to a striking op-ed by the UAE ambassador to Washington calling for a “conclusive outcome,” Rubin underscores the stakes, saying “this is how Iran behaves — willing to disrupt the global economy to protect itself.” Phares, meanwhile, argues current talks are part of a strategic calculation — “less about peace and more about buying time” — as momentum builds toward a more decisive phase that could include limited ground operations. They also point to developments in Lebanon — long seen as firmly within Iran’s sphere of influence — as evidence that Tehran’s regional grip may be weakening in real time. And finally — the human reality behind it all. Ali Rezaei Majd, the Iranian protester whose video from inside Iran was seen by millions, speaks out after escaping the country: “We cannot make a deal with them. Dealing with them means letting this cancer continue.” Watch this week's episode of Eye for Iran or listen on any podcast platform of your choosing. YouTube Chapters 00:00 Opening: “They were shooting people like a video game” 00:06 The viral witness: Ali Rezaei Majd 00:43 Iran fires toward Diego Garcia 01:20 UAE warns ceasefire is not enough 01:58 Iran’s missile capabilities and what comes next 02:42 Farzin Nadimi on Iran’s true missile range 04:55 Could Iran’s missiles reach the UK? 06:16 Why this is a global wake-up call 07:30 How much of Iran’s missile arsenal remains? 11:08 Inside Iran’s underground missile cities 12:44 Missile sites hidden near civilians 15:04 Factories, launchers, and urban danger zones 17:32 Kharg Island and the regime’s economic lifeline 20:27 What Iran is still capable of militarily 24:01 Threats to the US homeland? 25:17 UAE sounds alarm on Iran as a global threat 27:52 Is the region shifting against Tehran? 30:35 Are talks stalling? 33:27 Could boots on the ground be next? 37:21 Lebanon and Iran’s loosening grip 42:33 Ali Rezaei Majd on the January massacre 43:12 The viral video from inside Iran 45:16 Why he recorded it 46:43 What he witnessed on the streets 50:55 How he escaped Iran 54:33 His message to the world: no negotiations 58:14 First Nowruz after the massacre 01:02:04 “It was like a video game” 01:03:03 Final message from Ali Rezaei Majd #iran #diegogarcia #trump #ballisticmissiles #irgc #iranmissiles #uae #lebanon #hezbollah #israel #usa #middleeast #podcast #news #youtube #shorts

Iran just proved its reach — how much further will this war go? | Eye for Iran | EP 96 |

“It’s a matter of weeks.” That is Brigadier General (res.) Amir Avivi’s message on what may come next in Iran. The Israeli security insider and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum says conditions could soon be in place for Iranians to rise up safely against the Islamic Republic. But, he says, Israel and the US would first assess whether those conditions had truly been met — and would remain overhead in the skies, with drones and advanced capabilities, to protect the people of Iran. “Above their heads, there will be Israeli drones and American capabilities defending them from the air, and any attempt to hit the Iranian people will be met by an attack,” Avivi told Eye for Iran. Then, what could Washington do next? Investigative journalists Jay Solomon of The Free Press and David Patrikarakos, special correspondent for the Daily Mail, join us to discuss the next phase. Solomon says his sources in Washington indicate the Trump administration wants to secure the more than 400 kilograms of unaccounted-for highly enriched uranium. But with Pickaxe Mountain believed to be so deeply buried, an aerial mission alone may not be enough — raising the possibility of US ground forces entering tunnels. “The Marine Expeditionary Unit, MEU, that’s kind of been moving closer to Iran … could potentially be a unit that would be utilized to go in and try to safeguard the materials,” Solomon says. Patrikarakos shares what his sources are seeing inside Iran, including reports of growing disorder and signs that some IRGC elements may be turning against one another. Is the Revolutionary Guards Corps nearing a breaking point? “They paint a picture of a regime in disarray, its security apparatus is in disarray,” Patrikarakos says. And finally, we speak with Daniel Levinson, the son of retired FBI agent Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran while on an unsanctioned CIA-linked mission and is presumed dead. He tells us why the latest US and Israeli strikes may bring his family closer to the truth. “Khamenei had the power to free my dad at any point and chose not to. He knew what was happening and did nothing, so for our family, it’s been an emotional moment — but not one of grief.” You can watch this week's episode of Eye for Iran on YouTube or listen on any podcast platform of your choosing. Contents for this video: 00:00 Avivi: “The goal is clear” 00:24 Avivi says a turning point could be weeks away 00:54 Larijani dead, regime vows revenge 01:22 New reporting on IRGC infighting and next US moves 02:17 Robert Levinson case: Daniel Levinson joins later 03:45 Avivi on the three stages of the war 07:07 When can Iranians safely rise up? 09:20 Why Larijani’s killing matters 10:51 Is regime change the end game? 12:31 What conditions need to be met inside Iran 13:21 Avivi claims major defections in some units 16:01 Jay Solomon and David Patrikarakos join 16:35 David Patrikarakos on regime disarray 19:08 Are IRGC members turning on each other? 21:05 Jay Solomon on Pickaxe Mountain and US options 25:29 Could US boots go into the tunnels? 28:55 Kharg Island and pressure on the regime 34:07 Is this war also about China? 41:20 What is the actual US objective? 44:20 Could more regime officials be targeted? 45:27 Executions continue inside Iran 47:13 Iran’s information war in the West 52:44 Daniel Levinson joins the program 54:12 Robert Levinson’s disappearance explained 55:30 The family’s 19-year search for answers 56:58 Official linked to Levinson case killed in strikes 58:06 “No one was more responsible than Khamenei” 59:55 Could this bring justice? 01:01:00 Message to officials who know what happened 01:01:25 What accountability looks like now 01:01:53 Levinson family trips to Iran 01:03:26 Did the US do enough? 01:04:19 What Americans should understand about Iran 01:07:40 How Daniel wants his father remembered #iran #israel #trump #war #youtube #shorts #podcst #news #iranian

The call for another uprising in Iran is near, Israeli security insider says| Eye for Iran | EP 95 |

From Iran International comes the 'Eye for Iran' podcast, a weekly show that will take listeners beyond the headlines, deep into the Iran stories that matter most. With compelling interviews, expert analysis and high impact investigations, host Negar...

From Iran International comes the 'Eye for Iran' podcast, a weekly show that will take listeners beyond the headlines, deep into the Iran stories that matter most. With compelling interviews, expert analysis and high impact investigations, host Negar Mojtahedi examines the latest developments in and around Iran.

Eye For Iran

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