For decades, Iran has frustrated presidents, diplomats, and negotiators. Has it finally met its match? In Episode 106 of Eye for Iran, we examine the strategy, pressure and power dynamics shaping the latest standoff between Washington and Tehran—and whether Donald Trump is succeeding where previous administrations fell short. Former US diplomat Alberto Fernandez, United Against Nuclear Iran Policy Director Jason Brodsky, and Daily Mail Special Correspondent David Patrikarakos break down Trump's negotiating style, Iran's long-standing playbook of delay and resistance, and the growing debate over whether Tehran has finally encountered an opponent willing to combine diplomacy, economic pressure and military force to change the calculus. Has Iran met its match—or is it once again playing the long game? And even if a deal is reached, could future military strikes still be on the table? We then turn to the Strait of Hormuz, where Homayoun Falakshahi, who leads Kpler's crude oil analysis team, explains why one of Iran's most important sources of leverage may be losing its value. As Persian Gulf states invest in alternative export routes and global energy markets adapt to disruption, we explore whether Tehran is overplaying its hand—and why the next five years could leave the Islamic Republic with fewer strategic cards to play than it has today. Finally, from Beirut, Iran International Lebanon Correspondent May Farhat discusses Hezbollah's weakened position, Lebanon's efforts to curb Iranian influence, and growing concerns that Tehran is tying Lebanon's future to its broader confrontation with the United States and Israel. In a striking rebuke this week, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon as a "bargaining chip" in its negotiations with Washington and told the IRGC: "It's not your country, it's our country." His comments reflect a growing frustration among Lebanese leaders who argue that their country has paid the price for conflicts driven by outside powers. Meanwhile, Trump claimed progress in efforts to end the fighting, telling reporters, "We actually spoke with Hezbollah for the first time ever. We didn't know they spoke." But with Hezbollah rejecting a new ceasefire proposal and Israel insisting it will not withdraw its forces, we ask whether Lebanon risks becoming a bargaining chip in a much larger regional struggle—or whether Beirut is finally beginning to push back against Tehran's influence in a way that could reshape the country's future. Featuring: • Alberto Fernandez – Former US Diplomat and Vice President of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) • Jason Brodsky – Policy Director, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) • David Patrikarakos – Daily Mail Special Correspondent and Author • Homayoun Falakshahi – Head of Crude Oil Analysis, Kpler • May Farhat – Iran International Lebanon Correspondent Topics discussed: • Trump-Iran negotiations • Iran's negotiating strategy • Iran's nuclear program • The Strait of Hormuz • Global oil markets and energy security • China-Iran relations • Hezbollah and Lebanon • Iranian influence in the Middle East • US foreign policy and regional security Chapters: 0:00:00 Introduction to podcast 0:01:51 Segment 1: Has Iran finally met its match? We examine whether Donald Trump's mix of diplomacy, economic pressure and military threats is succeeding where previous administrations failed—and whether Tehran is genuinely on the defensive or simply buying time. 0:33:27 Segment 2: The Strait of Hormuz has long been one of Iran's most powerful tools of leverage, but as global energy markets adapt and the Persian Gulf states diversify export routes, we ask whether that strategic advantage is beginning to erode. 0:51:15 Segment 3: As Lebanon's president openly accuses Tehran of using his country as a bargaining chip, we explore Hezbollah's weakened position, growing resistance to Iranian influence, and whether Beirut is finally trying to break free from Tehran's shadow. #iran #trump #lebanon #hormuz #israel #podcast #iranpodcast #news #youtube #shorts

Can Trump crack Iran’s delay-and-negotiate playbook? Eye for Iran 106

Did the new US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding hand Tehran a major victory? In this episode of Eye for Iran, host Negar Mojtahedi breaks down the controversial MOU with former US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker, who argues the agreement delivers significant benefits to the Islamic Republic while leaving major questions unanswered on Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missiles and regional proxies. Then, human rights activist Gazelle Sharmahd joins the program to discuss the reaction among many Iranians who had hoped recent events would lead to meaningful change. Sharmahd reflects on the kidnapping and killing of her father Jamshid Sharmahd, the ongoing executions inside Iran and why she believes many Iranians feel abandoned by the international community. Finally, Iran International correspondent Alireza Modiri and actress and activist Shiva Negar discuss the FIFA World Cup and the emotions surrounding Team Melli. For many Iranians, football has become about far more than sport. From Lion and Sun flags in the stands to debates over national identity, the World Cup has become a reflection of the deep divisions and complicated feelings shaping modern Iran. Topics: • US-Iran MOU explained • Did Iran win the deal? • David Schenker's analysis • Gazelle Sharmahd on her father's murder • Human rights in Iran • Team Melli and the FIFA World Cup • Lion and Sun flags • Why Iranians are divided • Iran, Hezbollah and Lebanon • The future of US-Iran relations Guests: David Schenker – Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute Gazelle Sharmahd – Human Rights Activist and daughter of Jamshid Sharmahd Alireza Modiri – Correspondent, Iran International Shiva Negar – Actress and Activist Host: Negar Mojtahedi Subscribe for more Eye for Iran interviews, analysis and reporting from inside and outside Iran. Chapters: 00:01: 39 Did Iran Win the MOU? | David Schenker Breaks Down the Deal 00:22:42 "Iranians Feel Betrayed" | Gazelle Sharmahd on the Human Cost 00:39:41 FIFA & Team Melli | Why Iranians Are Divided at the World Cup #iran #trump #lebanon #israel #MOU #irandeal #podcast #news #irannews #iranpodcast #youtube #sportify #shorts

The Iran-US MoU explained: what it means for Iranian people | Eye for Iran 108

As Lebanon becomes central to Iran’s conditions for a broader US-Iran deal, this episode of Eye for Iran asks what the war has really changed — and what comes next. Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a veteran US Middle East negotiator, says Iran is using Lebanon to pressure both Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, trying to establish a new equation around Hezbollah. He also argues the future balance of power in the Middle East may increasingly belong to three non-Arab powers: Israel, Turkey and Iran. Elliott Abrams, former US Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela, says Washington still fails to grasp the nature of the Islamic Republic and warns that no deal can solve the deeper problem posed by the regime itself. Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian-Canadian veteran journalist and Middle East political analyst, recently returned from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He says the war has left “a scar” across the Arab world. Is the Iran war ending — or is Lebanon becoming the first battle over the Middle East that comes after it? #iran #lebanon #middleeast #podcast #youtube

Arab world losing the Mideast, experts say | Eye for Iran 106

Is a new US-Iran deal on the horizon—or is Tehran being thrown a lifeline at one of the most vulnerable moments in its history? As reports of renewed negotiations intensify, major questions remain. Is the Islamic Republic negotiating from a position of weakness or strength? Has Iran emerged damaged by war and economic pressure, or can its leadership still claim victory? Host Negar Mojtahedi is joined by former US Treasury official, FDD research fellow and former CENTCOM official Miad Maleki, alongside former Canadian government official, University of Ottawa professor and Chatham House associate fellow Thomas Juneau, to debate the state of the negotiations, Iran’s vulnerabilities, and what a deal could mean for the future of the Islamic Republic. Then, foreign policy commentator Mohamed Amersi joins Eye for Iran with a rare perspective from someone who regularly engages with Iranian officials, as well as Chinese, Russian, Arab and Western policymakers. He shares what he is hearing behind the scenes and why Tehran’s leadership may view the current moment very differently from many analysts in Washington. Finally, investigative reporter Jay Solomon of The Free Press and security expert Roger Macmillan examine allegations that Iran-linked proxy networks are expanding beyond the Middle East. From Europe to North America, they discuss growing security concerns, recruitment tactics, and what Western governments are doing to respond. In this episode: • Is a US-Iran deal getting closer? • Has the Islamic Republic been weakened by war and sanctions? • What is Tehran’s leadership really thinking behind closed doors? • Could a deal help the regime survive? • What role are China, Russia and Gulf states playing? • Are Iran-linked proxy networks expanding into Europe and North America? • What are the implications for Western security and Jewish communities? Chapters: 00:02:04:18 - 00:40:31:14 Is Trump Giving Iran's Regime a Lifeline? 00:40:34:14 - 01:17:46:17 Inside Tehran: What are Islamic Republic Really Thinking 01:17:49:10 - 01:42:56:23 Iran's Proxy Network Goes Global #iran #trump #israel #irannucleardeal #middleeast #shorts #youtube #podcast #news Miyad Maleki and Thomas Juneau debate the potential US-Iran deal, whether Tehran is negotiating from weakness, and what any agreement could mean for the future of the Islamic Republic.

Is Trump giving Iran's regime a lifeline? Eye for Iran 105

Is Iran heading toward a nuclear deal — or another war? As negotiations intensify, Tehran is threatening to expand the conflict beyond the Middle East while Israel remains on high alert. But behind the headlines lies a much bigger story: Iran’s growing attempt to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a geopolitical toll booth. In this episode of Eye for Iran, Negar Mojtahedi is joined by former U.S. State Department Senior Advisor Hazem Alghabra, former U.S. Treasury sanctions official Max Meizlish, Middle East analyst Hayvi Bouzo and national security expert Shayan Samii to break down: • Is Trump bluffing — or preparing for more war with Iran? • Could a new nuclear deal actually help the Islamic Republic survive? • Is China enabling Iran’s sanctions evasion and regional influence? • Why Tehran’s “Hormuz toll booth” strategy could trigger a global economic confrontation • Reports alleging Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was once considered in a post-Khamenei scenario • Internal fractures inside the Iranian regime • Whether economic pressure — not military strikes — is now the real battlefield “The Iranian people do not need rockets, they do not need drones, the Iranian people need to live.” WATCH UNTIL THE END for the explosive discussion on Ahmadinejad, Mossad, the New York Times report and the growing debate over what comes after the Islamic Republic. 00:00 Segment 1 — Deal or No Deal? War or No War? Guest: Hazem Alghabra 00:00 Intro — Is Iran Heading Toward Diplomacy or More War? 02:19 Trump, Tehran & Israel’s High Alert Status 03:27 Iran’s Internal Power Struggle Explained 07:20 Could Economic Pressure Bring Down the Regime? 08:28 Trump’s Negotiation Strategy & Iran Fatigue 09:02 Russia, China & Europe’s Role in the Crisis 11:08 “The Iranian People Need to Live” 13:25 Segment 2 — China, Hormuz & Iran’s Toll Booth Strategy Guest: Max Meizlish 13:25 Iran’s New “Hormuz Toll Booth” Explained 14:01 China’s Role in Iran’s Sanctions Evasion 16:04 Can the U.S. Punish China for Supporting Tehran? 19:35 Why Washington Isn’t Using Maximum Economic Pressure 21:50 Could Economic Warfare Weaken Both Iran & China? 25:06 Is Iran Formalizing Control Over the Strait of Hormuz? 27:56 Why China Needs Hormuz Open 29:28 China’s Quiet Negotiations With Tehran 30:53 Iran’s Alleged $2 Million Transit Fees 32:59 Segment 3 — Ahmadinejad, Mossad & The NYT Report Guests: Hayvi Bouzo & Shayan Samii 33:08 The New York Times Report Explained 34:08 Who Is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? 37:39 Ahmadinejad’s Record: Holocaust Denial & the Green Movement 39:17 Was the NYT Report Deliberately Leaked? 43:05 Is the Regime Turning on Ahmadinejad? 45:15 Internal IRGC Infighting & Succession Chaos 49:14 Could Ahmadinejad Ever Return? 51:54 Was the Leak Meant to Distract Iran’s Leadership? 53:20 Final Thoughts & Outro #iran #trump #israel #china #hormuz #iranwar #nucleardeal #middleeast #irgc #MahmoudAhmadinejad #geopolitics #EyeForIran

Will a US deal with Tehran save the regime? | Eye for Iran | EP 104 |

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|

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.

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Can Trump crack Iran’s delay-and-negotiate playbook? Eye for Iran 106

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The Iran-US MoU explained: what it means for Iranian people | Eye for Iran 108

Arab world losing the Mideast, experts say | Eye for Iran 106

Can Trump crack Iran’s delay-and-negotiate playbook? Eye for Iran 106

Is Trump giving Iran's regime a lifeline? Eye for Iran 105

Will a US deal with Tehran save the regime? | Eye for Iran | EP 104 |

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

The price of oil and the future of Hormuz

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