The war with Iran was supposed to change the equation. But before bombs fall, before presidents decide on war and peace, and before negotiators ever sit across from one another, there is intelligence. So what does someone who spent decades trying to understand Iran from inside the CIA see happening next? Eye for Iran’s Negar Mojtahedi spoke with Mark Fowler, a decorated former CIA case officer and Farsi speaker who spent 22 years at the agency, rising to the number two position on Iran and Iraq within the CIA and serving overseas as a Chief of Station. “We are in a test of wills,” Fowler said. “I just don’t know who will blink first.” Then, inside Iran, some very familiar faces are being put back in charge. The unseen Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has appointed six senior commanders across Iran’s armed forces, Revolutionary Guards and Basij, while veteran Guards commander Mohsen Rezaei has been handed one of the most powerful national security positions in the country. These aren’t young commanders being elevated to build a new Islamic Republic. They are veterans of the old one. So is Mojtaba Khamenei rebuilding the command structure for the next phase of war, consolidating his own power or preparing for unrest at home? Joining the discussion are Kamran Bokhari, senior resident fellow at the Middle East Policy Council and a strategic forecaster, Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, and Omid Memarian, senior Iran analyst at DAWN. “There’s been an undeclared coup by the Guard,” Bokhari said. Brodsky sees signs of an effort to balance competing power centers inside the IRGC. “I think we have some hints here that the system is trying to thread the needle among different camps within the IRGC, to try to hand out different positions to basically allow these different factions to have different aspects of the system under their control,” Brodsky said. Memarian argues one appointment in particular may reveal what the regime fears most. “Putting a veteran intelligence chief in charge of the Basij suggests that Tehran increasingly sees the foreign battlefield and the domestic street as two fronts of the same security challenge,” Memarian said. “The appointment was a sign of anxiety, not confidence.” And finally, preparations for unrest may extend beyond who controls the streets to how those streets themselves are designed. In some of Tehran’s most historic areas, the municipality is tearing up cobblestones and replacing them with asphalt. Iran International journalist Mehdi Sepahvand investigated what is happening and the long history of designing cities with security and social control in mind. “They are creating plain sight and direct shooting range for their forces,” Sepahvand said. His reporting examines why replacing cobblestones with asphalt could make it harder for protesters to congregate and easier for security forces and their vehicles to move through the streets. Taken together, the changes raise a bigger question: Is the Islamic Republic preparing not only for another confrontation abroad, but for the possibility of major unrest at home? And when the war ends, what happens at home? Watch Eye for Iran every Friday for three segments on the stories shaping Iran and its future. Subscribe on YouTube or listen on the podcast platform of your choice. Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up 02:41 CHAPTER 1: Inside the CIA’s Iran Playbook Mark Fowler — decorated former CIA case officer, Iran specialist and former Chief of Station Fowler spent 22 years at the CIA, rising to the number two position on Iran and Iraq. He explains how human intelligence on Iran actually works, how intelligence reaches the president and why he believes the US and Iran have entered a “test of wills.” 34:35 CHAPTER 2 — Who Really Controls Iran Now? Kamran Bokhari — Senior Resident Fellow, Middle East Policy Council and Strategic Forecaster Jason Brodsky — Policy Director, United Against Nuclear Iran Omid Memarian — Senior Iran Analyst, DAWN The panel breaks down the return of Iran’s old guard, the unanswered questions surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei and whether the IRGC is consolidating power. Bokhari argues there has been an “undeclared coup by the Guard,” while Memarian says the appointments reveal a regime preparing simultaneously for conflict abroad and unrest at home. 1:07:41 CHAPTER 3 - Tehran Is Redesigning Its Streets for Protest Mehdi Sepahvand — Iran International journalist Sepahvand investigates why Tehran is replacing cobblestones with asphalt in historic pedestrian areas. His reporting connects the changes to security control, including making it easier for security vehicles to move through protest areas and creating clearer lines of sight for forces #iran #irgc #cia #iranprotests #iranwar #mojtabakhamenei #iranpodcast #irannews #youtubeshorts #youtube #news #podcast

How Iran is preparing for a domestic war against its own people | Eye for Iran | EP 116 |

Can financial pressure succeed where military strikes cannot? For months, the debate over Iran has focused on bombs, missiles and airstrikes. But what if the Islamic Republic's greatest vulnerability isn't military at all? In this episode of Eye for Iran, I sit down with Roger Macmillan, Counterterrorism and Security Specialist, and Miad Maleki, Senior US Sanctions Strategist, FDD Fellow and former US Treasury official, to explore why Iran's economy—and more specifically the regime's ability to pay the IRGC, Basij and its security apparatus—may be its greatest vulnerability. While the Islamic Republic has shown it can absorb military strikes, can it survive sustained financial pressure? Segment 2: Inside Iran’s sanctions-busting military supply networks Kerri Bittsoff, former senior official at the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), spent years targeting the financial and procurement pipelines behind Iran's drones, missiles and nuclear program, disrupting the regime's ability to develop, indigenize and source critical components. Most recently, she led efforts to expose and disrupt Tehran's military supply chain to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine. She explains how China and Russia have become critical lifelines for Tehran, helping the regime procure advanced weapons, finance its activities and evade sanctions. Segment 3: Is the IRGC becoming the state? Alex Vatanka, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and historian Shahram Kholdi examine how power inside Iran is shifting after the war. Has the IRGC eclipsed the country's civilian institutions? Is parliament becoming irrelevant? And what could the post-war power struggle mean for Iran's political future? If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe and share. Please let us know what you think in comments below. Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up 01:23 Roger Macmillan & Miad Maleki | Can Financial Pressure Break Iran? 13:44 Iran's Achilles' Heel 25:03 Kerri Bitsoff | Can the US Cut Off Iran's Lifelines? 26:43 China's Weapons Pipeline to Iran 30:03 How Iran Evades Sanctions 37:51 Russia's Role in Arming Iran 44:38 Are China and Russia Keeping Iran Alive? 45:19 Alex Vatanka, Behnam Ben Taleblu & Shahram Kholdi | Is the IRGC Taking Over Iran? 46:11 Has the IRGC Taken Over Iran? 53:28 Is the IRGC United? 1:00:57 Who Really Holds Power in Tehran? 1:07:20 Who Speaks for Mojtaba Khamenei? 1:13:22 Thanks for Watching #iran #iranuswar #scottbessent #china #russia #majlis #Iranpodcast #podcast #news #youtubeshorts #youtube #israel #ofac #middleeast

Bombs won't break Iran's regime, but money might | Eye for Iran | EP 115 |

Industrial cranes are meant to build cities. In Iran, they are increasingly being used as gallows. The public hanging of Amirhossein Safari and Abolfazl Sepahi in Isfahan has become a symbol of Iran's escalating execution campaign. As the world focuses on war, Iran is accelerating executions—prompting growing concern among human rights advocates and legal experts. In this episode of Eye for Iran, Professor Payam Akhavan, former UN Prosecutor and Human Rights Chair at Massey College, explains why he believes these are not lawful executions but arbitrary killings that may amount to crimes against humanity under international law. "These are killings. They are murders. There is no legal justification whatsoever for these killings." — Professor Payam Akhavan We then examine President Donald Trump's repeated promise to "finish the job" in Iran. What does that mean in practical terms? Admiral Robert Harward (Ret.), former Deputy Commander of US Central Command, and Blaise Misztal, Vice President of Policy at JINSA, discuss the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program and Washington's strategic objectives. "Changing the government in Tehran has to be the ultimate end state." — Admiral Robert Harward (Ret.) "I don't think President Trump would consider this war concluded until steps have been taken to ensure that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon." — Blaise Misztal Finally, Alex Vatanka, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, and Nicole Grajewski, Assistant Professor at Sciences Po, analyze Ukraine's unprecedented strike on an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea and what it reveals about the growing convergence between the wars in Ukraine and Iran. "Perhaps the Iranians are thinking this was the West... using Ukraine as a way of sending a signal." — Alex Vatanka "The clear purpose... was to highlight how involved both Russia and Iran are in their respective wars." — Nicole Grajewski Guests Guests • Professor Payam Akhavan — Former UN Prosecutor; Human Rights Chair, Massey College, University of Toronto • Admiral Robert Harward (Ret.) — Former Deputy Commander, US Central Command • Blaise Misztal — Vice President of Policy, JINSA • Alex Vatanka — Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute • Nicole Grajewski — Assistant Professor, Sciences Po Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:04 Segment 1 | Professor Payam Akhavan Former UN Prosecutor | Human Rights Chair, Massey College 02:04 Iran's Public Hangings Return 06:06 Why Is Iran Escalating Executions? 08:00 The Courage of Iran's Protesters 11:00 "These Are Murders," Says Former UN Prosecutor 16:21 Who Could Be Prosecuted? 17:56 Preserving Evidence for Future Trials 21:11 Extermination vs. Genocide 22:57 Responding to Massacre Deniers 28:42 Segment 2 | Admiral Robert Harward & Blaise Misztal Former Deputy Commander, US Central Command | Vice President of Policy, JINSA 28:42 What Does Trump Mean by "Finish the Job"? 31:20 Why Give Iran More Time? 34:11 Does "Finish the Job" Mean Regime Change? 40:33 Military Pressure vs. Iran's Internal Crackdown 45:01 Pickaxe Mountain and Netanyahu 50:51 Can Iran Rebuild? 56:18 What's Next for Iran? 59:19 Boots on the Ground? 01:02:57 Segment 3 | Alex Vatanka & Nicole Grajewski Middle East Institute | Sciences Po 01:02:57 Ukraine Strikes an Iranian Ship 01:03:39 Was the Caspian Strike a Warning? 01:08:33 Is Ukraine Acting as a Proxy? 01:12:28 Will the Caspian Sea Become Militarized? 01:16:08 How Ukraine Changed Iran-Russia Relations 01:20:13 What's Next for Iran, Russia and Ukraine? 01:25:30 Closing Remarks #iran #iranexecutions #humanrights #trump #ukraine #russia #caspian #Iranpodcast #shorts #youtube #irannews

'Iran's executions are murders,' former UN prosecutor says | Eye for Iran | EP 114 |

What is the United States really trying to achieve with its expanding military campaign inside Iran? As US strikes move deeper into Iran, targeting military sites, logistics networks and critical infrastructure, many are asking: What is Washington's endgame? At the same time, executions inside Iran are accelerating as the world's attention remains fixed on the war, while Gulf states brace for what could come next. In Episode 113 of Eye for Iran, we examine what the US strikes on Iran really add up to, why executions are increasing during the conflict and how the war is reshaping security across the Persian Gulf. John Spencer — Executive Director of the Urban Warfare Institute, retired US Army officer and renowned war scholar — explains what the United States is trying to achieve inside Iran, why Bandar Abbas has become a strategic focus and whether Washington is preparing for a broader phase of the campaign. Azadeh Afsahi, founder of Iran House, Shahin Milani, Executive Director of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, and Brandon Silver, Director of Policy and Projects at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, examine the surge in executions inside Iran and explain why they believe the Islamic Republic fears its own people as much as it fears foreign militaries. Why the Islamic Republic is using the war to ramp up executions as the worlds attention focus on the bombs and not the hangings. Saad Bin Tefla Al-Ajmi, former Minister of Information of Kuwait, explains how Gulf states are responding as the conflict moves closer to their borders, why Kuwait has become increasingly vulnerable and why he believes Iran faces its own "chalice of poison" moment. Subscribe to Eye for Iran for exclusive interviews, in-depth reporting and expert analysis on Iran, US-Iran relations, the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and global security. #iran #usiran #kuwait #war #podcast #news #iranpodcast #irannews

Are US strikes laying the groundwork for a wider Iran war? | Eye for Iran | EP 113 |

Why are US strikes moving deeper into southern Iran—and what is Washington really trying to achieve? As attacks hit bridges, transport links and facilities around Bandar Abbas and Chabahar, the conflict appears to be entering a more dangerous phase. At the same time, a leaked Iranian presidency report reveals record public anger, while new economic data shows that barely 37 percent of working-age Iranians have jobs. This week on Eye for Iran, three segments examine the military, political and economic pressures closing in on the Islamic Republic. SEGMENT ONE: WHY THE SOUTH? Rebeccah Heinrichs, Senior Fellow and Director of the Keystone Defense Initiative at Hudson Institute, examines why US strikes are moving deeper into southern Iran. What is the strategic importance of Chabahar, Bandar Abbas and Iran’s southern transport network? Are the attacks focused solely on weakening Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz—or do they signal a broader US military strategy? Heinrichs also discusses President Donald Trump’s comments about possible ground troops and whether limited special operations could become part of the campaign. SEGMENT TWO: IRAN’S PRIVATE WARNING A confidential report prepared for Iran’s presidency records what it describes as the highest national anger level ever measured and finds that nine in ten Iranians want some form of change. Arash Sohrabi, Iran International reporter, Dr. Shahram Kholdi, Iran historian and Siavash Rokni, Iranian pop culture expert and political commentator, examine what the leaked report reveals about the country’s mood. They discuss collapsing trust, growing secular identity, widespread hopelessness and the striking gap between the patriotic unity shown on state television and what the government’s own survey found behind closed doors. The report recommends managing public anger—not addressing its underlying causes. Can the Islamic Republic contain a society that increasingly separates defending Iran from defending the regime? SEGMENT THREE: IRAN’S HIDDEN JOBS CRISIS Iran’s official unemployment rate is only 7.5 percent. Yet barely 37 percent of working-age Iranians are employed. Mohammad Machine-Chian, economist and Director of International Affairs at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, explains how millions of discouraged workers disappear from Iran’s unemployment statistics. He examines the impact of wartime job losses, Iran’s exceptionally low female labour-force participation and an economy expected to contract sharply. Could effective unemployment be approaching one in three—and how much more pressure can Iranian society absorb? Eye for Iran examines the latest developments in the US-Iran conflict, southern Iran, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas, the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s internal political crisis, public anger, unemployment and the future of the Islamic Republic. Subscribe for weekly interviews and analysis on Iran and the Mideast. #iran #usiran #chabaharport #straitofhormuz #iraneconomy #iranprotests #middleeast #geopolitics #eyeforIran #shorts #news #podcast #iranpodcast #youtube

Why are US strikes moving deeper into Iran? | Eye for Iran | EP 112 |

Just weeks after Washington and Tehran agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), commercial vessels are under attack, the Strait of Hormuz is back in the headlines and President Trump says the agreement is over. But what if everyone is asking the wrong question? Was the Iran-US MoU ever meant to deliver peace—or was it designed to manage conflict while both sides pursued their own strategic goals? In this episode of Eye for Iran, Negar Mojtahedi is joined by: • Jonathan Sayeh – Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) • Arash Azizi – Historian and contributing writer, The Atlantic • Fatima Al-Asrar – Washington Center for Yemeni Studies • Itai Reuveni – NGO Monitor • Hossein Mansour – JINSA Fellow and author of After the Ayatollah • Khosrow Esfahani – National Union for Democracy in Iran They discuss: • Why Iran targeted commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz • Whether Tehran is risking billions in sanctions relief • Is the IRGC acting independently? • Has the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding already failed? • Did Ali Khamenei's death end Velayat-e Faqih? • Is political Islam entering a new era? • Why Western media covered Khamenei's funeral more than Iran's January massacre • What comes next for Iran, Israel, the United States and the Middle East. Eye for Iran goes beyond the headlines with expert analysis on Iran, the Middle East and global security. Chapters: 00:00 Iran-US strikes, Hormuz and Khamenei’s funeral 01:28 Is the Iran-US MoU already dead? 02:19 Was the MoU ever designed to bring peace? 06:15 Can Washington and Tehran get back on track? 12:43 Has Iran crossed the line in the Strait of Hormuz? 13:30 Can Iran’s government actually control the IRGC? 18:33 Why attack ships when Iran stands to make billions? 22:11 Is Tehran’s gamble paying off? 23:17 What the Houthis taught Iran about US power 30:56 Peace agreement or a framework for managed conflict? 44:25 Did Khamenei take Velayat-e Faqih with him? 46:56 What Iran’s transformation means for its proxies 48:47 The afterlife of political Islam 52:07 Could post-Khamenei Iran become even more brutal? 54:53 The origins of Velayat-e Faqih 58:28 Who is really ruling Iran now? 1:00:27 Is Sharia losing its political power? 1:03:00 Will “Death to America” outlive political Islam? 1:05:50 Iran brings 400 foreign influencers to Khamenei’s funeral 1:11:09 Why was Iran’s January massacre largely ignored? 1:14:38 The propaganda battle over Khamenei’s funeral 1:28:14 Closing thoughts #iran #khamenei #tehran #irgc #information #trump #hormoz #usa #Israel #islam #youtubeshorts #youtube #podcast #news

Is the Iran-US MoU dead—or working exactly as intended? | Eye for Iran | EP 111 |

Something has shifted inside Tehran. Not because the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is about to disappear—but because members of Iran's establishment are openly debating ideas that would have been politically unthinkable just months ago. The war may be over—for now. But inside Tehran, the battle over the Islamic Republic's future is only beginning. Who is gaining ground? Is the Islamic Republic preparing to reinvent itself—or simply searching for a new way to survive? And what could post-war Iran actually look like? This week on Eye for Iran, we go beyond the headlines to examine the growing power struggle inside Tehran, the future of the Islamic Republic, what it means for ordinary Iranians facing economic hardship and uncertainty, and why the crackdown on Christians continues despite talk of change. Guests include Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Alex Vatanka, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Iran Program Senior Director Behnam Ben Taleblu, historian Dr. Shahram Kholdi, Iran International correspondent Maryam Sinaiee, human rights lawyer Omid Shams, and Mansour Borji, Advocacy Director at Article 18. Topics: Iran, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Islamic Republic, post-war Iran, Iran politics, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran economy, Iranian Christians, religious persecution, Eye for Iran. 00:00 Has the Islamic Republic entered a new era? 01:39 Is the IRGC really being dismantled? 10:17 The interview Tehran didn't want you to see 15:35 Inside the regime's power struggle 20:45 Who is really running Iran now? 26:47 Military dictatorship or managed transition? 31:46 Can the Islamic Republic survive? 40:39 What life is really like inside Iran 47:53 Why Iranians feel stuck in limbo 55:20 What the Iranian people want next 01:06:06 Iran's oldest Persian church under threat 01:16:27 The crackdown on Christian converts 01:21:01 Why the regime is acting now 01:26:00 What's next for Iran's Christians? #iran #khamenei #irgc #christian #christianity #iranian #economy #islamicrepublic #news #podcast #youtube #shorts

The Islamic Republic's next battle is internal | Eye for Iran Ep. 110

The new US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) could unlock tens of billions of dollars for Tehran and fundamentally reshape Iran's economic and political future. Host Negar Mojtahedi speaks with former US Treasury sanctions official Max Meizlish, economist Mohamad Machine-Chian, former US military intelligence officer Michael Pregent, and Iran analyst Omid Memarian to explain what the agreement means for sanctions, the IRGC, Qatar, China and post-Khamenei Sr. Iran. In this episode: Max Meizlish, a former Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) official, explains why General License X could provide "unconditioned, unrestricted sanctions relief," potentially giving Tehran access to tens of billions of dollars. He argues the IRGC stands to receive a significant financial windfall and warns that China could emerge as one of the agreement's biggest beneficiaries. Mohamad Machine-Chian examines whether the agreement can stabilize Iran's economy. He explains why FATF restrictions, Iran's isolated banking system and entrenched corruption remain major obstacles, while arguing the new funds could help Iran's Central Bank avoid a deeper inflation crisis. Former US military intelligence officer Michael Pregent argues Qatar wielded extraordinary influence during the negotiations, warning that "Every Qatari negotiated outcome is a failure for US national security." He explains why he believes the agreement echoes the concessions made during the JCPOA and what it could mean for future US policy toward Iran. Omid Memarian, Director of Communications at DAWN, says the Islamic Republic is entering an "identity crisis" following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He predicts the next battle will unfold inside the regime itself, as competing factions fight to define Iran's future and the next phase of the Islamic Republic. Topics covered: Trump's Iran MOU explained General License X Iran sanctions relief Iran oil exports The IRGC and Iran's economy Frozen Iranian assets Qatar's role in the negotiations China's influence in Iran FATF and Iran's banking system Post-Khamenei Iran Internal power struggles inside the Islamic Republic US-Iran relations Middle East geopolitics If you enjoy in-depth reporting and expert analysis on Iran and the Middle East, subscribe to Eye for Iran and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode. #iran #iranpodcast #mou #qatar #jdvance #witkoff #kushner #youtube #middleeast #shorts #trump #economy

Trump's Iran MoU explained: how Iran gets billions—and why | Eye for Iran 109

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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How Iran is preparing for a domestic war against its own people | Eye for Iran | EP 116 |

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Bombs won't break Iran's regime, but money might | Eye for Iran | EP 115 |

'Iran's executions are murders,' former UN prosecutor says | Eye for Iran | EP 114 |

Are US strikes laying the groundwork for a wider Iran war? | Eye for Iran | EP 113 |

Why are US strikes moving deeper into Iran? | Eye for Iran | EP 112 |

Is the Iran-US MoU dead—or working exactly as intended? | Eye for Iran | EP 111 |

The Islamic Republic's next battle is internal | Eye for Iran Ep. 110

The Islamic Republic's next battle is internal | Eye for Iran Ep. 110

Trump's Iran MoU explained: how Iran gets billions—and why | Eye for Iran 109