Skip to main content
The Iran Podcast

The Iran Podcast

By Negar Mortazavi

Conversations on Iranian politics, society, and culture with host Negar Mortazavi.

Support the Iran Podcast:
anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Grassroots Against Sanctions

The Iran PodcastMar 26, 2021

00:00
42:41
War in the Middle East

War in the Middle East

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, about the Israel-Hamas war, US-Iran tensions, the Axis of Resistance, the influence of Arab countries, and the impact of this war in the Middle East on the upcoming US presidential elections.
Mar 19, 202428:38
Will the US and Iran go to war?

Will the US and Iran go to war?

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Benjamin Friedman, policy director at Defense Priorities in Washington. Friedman previously worked as a defense analyst at the Cato Institute and at the Center for Defense Information. He has edited three books on defense policy and strategy and has published academic essays in International Security, Political Science Quarterly, Foreign Affairs, and World Affairs.
Feb 03, 202429:57
The Axis of Resistance

The Axis of Resistance

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Mehran Kamrava, Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar and director of the Iranian Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. Kamrava is the author of a number of books including Righteous Politics: Power and Resilience in Iran; A Dynastic History of Iran: From the Qajars to the Pahlavis; Triumph and Despair: In Search of Iran's Islamic Republic; and, A Concise History of Revolution.

Jan 10, 202432:45
Israel-Hamas and Iran #3

Israel-Hamas and Iran #3

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Matt Duss, Executive Vice President, and Sina Toosi, Senior Fellow, at the Center for International Policy, about the Israel-Hamas war, the Biden administration’s policy, and the role of Iran and its regional allies.
Nov 22, 202335:46
Israel-Hamas and Iran #2

Israel-Hamas and Iran #2

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and Associate Professor of Middle East and Islamic Politics at Georgetown University.
Nov 12, 202336:34
Israel-Hamas and Iran #1

Israel-Hamas and Iran #1

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in Washington DC.
Nov 07, 202326:56
The Battles of the Ayatollah

The Battles of the Ayatollah

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Alex Vatanka about Iran’s domestic politics and mass protests, the crisis of legitimacy and the issue of leadership succession, Tehran’s deescalation with Washington and regional engagement with Arab rivals, and the continuous shift to the East towards Russia and China.

Guest: Alex Vatanka, Director of Iran Program at the Middle East Institute, and author of “The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran: The United States, Foreign Policy, and Political Rivalry Since 1979”.
Sep 30, 202334:36
One Year After Mahsa Amini

One Year After Mahsa Amini

A year has passed since the death in custody of Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran. This panel discusses the current state of Iran’s domestic dissent, Tehran’s foreign policy and shift to the East, the prisoner swap and nuclear tensions with the US, and Iran’s engagement with its regional rivals. Negar Mortazavi joins Farnaz Fassihi from the New York Times, Kelsey Davenport from the Arms Control Association, Nader Hashemi from Georgetown University, and Barbara Slavin at the Stimson Center in Washington. (More details: www.stimson.org/event/iran-one-year-after-the-death-of-mahsa-amini/)
Sep 19, 202301:31:45
Iran, Russia, and Inter-Pariah Solidarity

Iran, Russia, and Inter-Pariah Solidarity

In this episode we discuss Iran’s shift to the East towards big powers in Asia, mainly Russia and China, and engaging with regional rivals like Saudi Arabia, and most recently joining the BRICS, and what this all means in a shifting global order.

Host Negar Mortazavi speaks to Nicole Grajewsky at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Mathieu Droin at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Sep 06, 202325:44
US and Iran Prisoner Swap

US and Iran Prisoner Swap

Washington and Tehran have reached a deal to swap prisoners and unblock Iran’s frozen assets in South Korea. Iran will release a number of American prisoners in exchange for the U.S. releasing a number of Iranian prisoners and unblocking $6 billion of Iranian funds to be used for humanitarian transactions. What does this agreement mean for each side? Will this be a prelude for more deescalation between Iran and the U.S.?
Negar Mortazavi speaks to Stephen Miles, the president of Win Without War, a coalition of organizations that work for a more peaceful and progressive U.S. foreign policy. He previously worked for the global campaigning organization Avaaz, was the Executive Director of the American Hellenic Council, and has worked on multiple federal, state, and local electoral campaigns.
Aug 17, 202328:10
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Annie Tracy Samuel about the history and formation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), the role of the guards after the revolution and during the Iran-Iraq war, and how the group has evolved into a prominent organization today that influences Iran’s foreign and security policies. Our guest is Annie Tracy Samuel, Associate Professor of History at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga who specializes in the modern history of Iran and the Middle East. She is the author of The Unfinished History of the Iran-Iraq War: Faith, Firepower, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Aug 03, 202342:33
Medicine Shortage in Iran

Medicine Shortage in Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Murtaza Hussain, a senior reporter at The Intercept and co-host of the Intercepted podcast, about Biden’s policy towards Iran and how he kept Trump’s “maximum pressure” sanctions that discourage even legal, humanitarian trade.
Jul 14, 202336:59
Iran’s Labor Movement

Iran’s Labor Movement

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Zep Kalb at the department of sociology at UCLA about Iran’s labor movement and recent rounds of labor protests, and how the Iranian state relies on labor support, bargains with workers, and responds to labor protests.
The Iran Podcast is fiscally sponsored by the Center for International Policy in Washington.
Jul 07, 202339:30
The Iranian Economy in 2023

The Iranian Economy in 2023

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Bijan Khajehpour, a managing partner at EUNEPA based in Vienna and a leading analyst of Iranian political and economic affairs, about the current state of economy in Iran, record inflations, systemic corruption and mismanagement, domestic unrest, and international sanctions, and how they all impact the lives of everyday Iranians.
Jun 23, 202336:10
Iran and Saudi Arabia

Iran and Saudi Arabia

Negar Mortazavi speaks to ⁠Dina Esfandiary⁠, Senior Advisor for Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group, about the new agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia that was brokered by China, Tehran’s shifting regional policy in the Middle East, and its continuous move towards the East and away from the West.


Iran Podcast is fiscally sponsored by the ⁠Center for International Policy⁠ in Washigton.




Jun 15, 202334:19
Europe and Iran

Europe and Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Rouzbeh Parsi, head of the Middle East and North Africa program at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs in Stockholm, about Europe-Iran relations in 2023, recent prisoner swaps between the two sides, how Russia’s attack on Ukraine has impacted Europe-Iran ties, and Iran’s continuous shift to the East and away from the West.
Jun 09, 202335:24
US and Iran, Tension or Diplomacy?

US and Iran, Tension or Diplomacy?

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and a lecturer in international affairs at George Washington University, about US-Iran tensions, possibilities for nuclear diplomacy and prisoner swaps, Iran’s domestic repression and shift to the East, and a new geo-political landscape in the Middle East.


Iran Podcast is sponsored by the Center for International Policy in Washington.

Jun 02, 202327:23
Woman, Life, Freedom

Woman, Life, Freedom

Welcome to the new season of Iran Podcast. In this episode Negar Mortazavi, journalist and Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy, speaks to Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver, about the recent mass uprising in Iran that started after the killing of Mahsa Jina Amini in September 2022.


Iran Podcast is sponsored by the ⁠Center for International Policy⁠ in Washington.

May 24, 202332:23
Remembering John Tirman

Remembering John Tirman

Our guest John Tirman, Executive Director of the MIT Center for International Studies and an expert on US-Iran relations, has passed away. We had the honor of hosting professor Tirman a few months before his passing to discuss his last book, Republics of Myth. Here is that conversation from May 2022.
Sep 01, 202246:41
Salman Rushdie and Iran

Salman Rushdie and Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver, about the attack on Salman Rushdie, the Fatwa by Iran, and the response to the Satanic Verses across the Muslim world.
Aug 20, 202232:50
Will Iran Return to the Deal?

Will Iran Return to the Deal?

Negar Mortazavi discussed Iran nuclear negotiations discussion on The Newsmakers with Hassan Ahmadian at Tehran University and Ali Fathollahnejad at the American University of Beirut.
Aug 11, 202226:55
University of Chicago panel

University of Chicago panel

Negar Mortazavi joins a panel discussion at the University of Chicago’s Pearson Institute, about Iran’s foreign and domestic policies under the new hardline administration of Ebrahim Raisi, with Mahsa Rouhi, Vali Nasr, Pouya Alimagham and Ali Vaez.
Aug 05, 202201:01:21
US-Iran on Talk World Radio

US-Iran on Talk World Radio

Negar Mortazavi joined David Swanson on Talk World Radio to discuss US-Iran relations and the latest in nuclear negotiations. This conversation was recorded on July 26th. 


Aug 05, 202228:46
Representation of Iranians in Western Media

Representation of Iranians in Western Media

How are Iranians represented in Western media and cultural products? Iran Podcast host Negar Mortazavi joins a panel discussion with Assal Rad, Yahya Kamalipour, and Mehran Kamrava hosted by the Iranian Studies Program at the Arab Center.
Aug 02, 202259:46
Press The Button

Press The Button

Negar Mortazavi joins Tom Collina, policy director at Ploughshares Fund, on “Press The Button” podcast to discuss the future of Iran nuclear negotiations, the current stalemate in Vienna, and prospects for reaching an agreement.
Jun 24, 202239:11
Iran and the GCC

Iran and the GCC

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Giorgio Cafiero, the CEO of Gulf State Analytics, about Iran’s relations with the GCC, US policy towards the region, the Abraham Accords, and the impact of the Ukraine war on the region.
Jun 04, 202201:07:09
Afghanistan, Women & Peace

Afghanistan, Women & Peace

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics, about Afghanistan after the US withdrawal and under the Taliban, the fate of women peacemakers who were left behind. Sanam has two decades of experience as a peace strategist working globally on conflicts, crises and violent extremism with a mix of civil society, governments and the UN. She was appointed to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours list for services to International peace building and Women’s Rights.
May 18, 202242:58
US-Iran Tensions and Misperceptions

US-Iran Tensions and Misperceptions

Negar Mortazavi speaks to John Tirman, Director of MIT Center for International Studies, about four decades of animosity between Iran and the United States, key historical events that have caused the enmity, and how the national narratives of the two countries put them at odds over the decades.
May 07, 202246:41
Israeli-Arab Ties and Iran

Israeli-Arab Ties and Iran

A number of Arab countries have normalized ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Negar Mortazavi joined a panel of experts to discuss Israeli-Arab cooperation, concerns over Iran, and the stalled Palestinian peace process with Omar Baddar, co-host of “This is Palestine” podcast, Paul Salem, President of the Middle East Institute, and Dan Arbell, a 25-year veteran of the Israeli Foreign Service, hosted by Nathan King on CGTN's "The Heat".
Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo art by Mina Jafari.
May 07, 202228:54
Ukraine War & the Middle East

Ukraine War & the Middle East

Negar Mortazavi moderates a panel discussion at George Washington University about Russia’s attack on l Ukraine and its implications on the Middle East Security Complex, with Alex Vatanka from MEI, Sina Azodi from GWU and Nicole Grajewski from Harvard.
May 05, 202201:00:22
Ukraine, Russia, and Iran Talks

Ukraine, Russia, and Iran Talks

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Tom Collina, Policy Director at Ploughshares Fund, about the war in Ukraine, how nuclear weapons enabled Russia’s attack, and why the JCPOA is a good deal.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Apr 05, 202240:58
The Nuclear Option

The Nuclear Option

Negar Mortazavi joined Alicia McBride and Jack Gordon on Tacoma Radio to discuss US-Iran diplomacy and nuclear disarmament. The program is called Interfaithish that brings people of different beliefs and cultural backgrounds together to talk about our commonalities and differences.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support 

Apr 01, 202258:04
Back Home Beer

Back Home Beer

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Zahra Tabatabai, founder and CEO of Back Home Beer, who is brewing beer in New York with flavors from Iran that are inspired by her grandfather’s old recipes. She uses ingredients sourced from the Middle East like Sumac, sour cherries, and a special Persian blue salt that is mined in Iran.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Mar 10, 202227:46
Ukraine, Russian, and Iran

Ukraine, Russian, and Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Mark Fitzpatrick, former acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Non-Proliferation, about Russia’s attack on Ukraine, threats of a nuclear standoff, the Budapest Memorandum, Chernobyl, and the current Iran nuclear talks in Vienna.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Mar 05, 202246:53
Final Stage of Nuclear Talks

Final Stage of Nuclear Talks

Negar Mortazavi and Tom O’Connor discuss the final stage of the nuclear talks, and the importance of domestic politics in Tehran and Washington, hosted on Twitter Space with host Saeed Azimi.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 25, 202201:35:60
Biden, Menendez & JCPOA

Biden, Menendez & JCPOA

A conversation hosted on Los Angeles Public Radio about Biden’s nuclear diplomacy with Iran and opposition from Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, with Estee Chandler and Assal Rad.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 24, 202227:21
Demonizing Iranians (2/2)

Demonizing Iranians (2/2)

A conversation about the dehumanization of Iranians in US political discourse, media coverage, and cultural products, and how it leads to bad policies that harm Iranians in Iran as well as Iranian-Americans in the United States. Negar Mortazavi moderated this live conversation on Twitter Space with Assal Rad from NIAC, Niki Akhavan from Catholic University, and Pouya Alimagham from MIT.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 19, 202248:03
Demonizing Iranians (1/2)

Demonizing Iranians (1/2)

A conversation about the dehumanization of Iranians in US political discourse, media coverage, and cultural products, and how it leads to bad policies that harm Iranians in Iran as well as Iranian-Americans in the United States. Negar Mortazavi moderated this live conversation on Twitter Space with Assal Rad from NIAC, Niki Akhavan from Catholic University, and Pouya Alimagham from MIT.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 19, 202249:60
The Future of Afghanistan

The Future of Afghanistan

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Vali Nasr, former US advisor for Afghanistan, about the current state of Afghanistan after two decades of invasion and the chaotic US withdrawal, devastating economic sanctions and new waves of refugees, and the future of the country under Taliban rule.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 10, 202244:17
US-Iran Diplomacy

US-Iran Diplomacy

A conversation about US-Iran relations, nuclear negotiations, the impact of sanctions, and the difficult path ahead for diplomacy. This conversation was recorded live on Twitter Spaces with Trita Parsi from Quincy Institute, Ryan Costello from NIAC, and Sara Haghdoosti from Win Without War, and moderated by Negar Mortazavi.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Jan 03, 202201:24:43
On NPR & Democracy Now!

On NPR & Democracy Now!

Negar Mortazavi talks about the latest developments in the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna in two interviews on NPR and Democracy Now! We also hear a message from our listener & supporter, Justice Arman in Texas.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Dec 21, 202116:59
Can the JCPOA Survive?

Can the JCPOA Survive?

A discussion about the current nuclear negotiations in Vienna and the future of the Iran nuclear deal, with Negar Mortazavi, Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute, and Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute, moderated by Bruce Fein and hosted by the National Interest Foundation in Washington DC.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Dec 11, 202101:12:44
Iran-Saudi-US Relations

Iran-Saudi-US Relations

Panel discussion at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor’s School of Public Policy with Negar Mortazavi, John Limbert, Hesham Alghannam, David Des Roches, and moderated by Dania Thafer of the GIF.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Dec 07, 202101:29:21
Attacks on Female Journalists

Attacks on Female Journalists

Negar Mortazavi joins Angie Seth on Canadian television CTV to discuss racist and misogynistic attacks on female journalists across the world.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Nov 26, 202119:27
Actor Arian Moayed

Actor Arian Moayed

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Iranian-American actor Arian Moayed about playing an Iranian billionaire in the television show Succession and other roles in television and theater, growing up in America as an immigrant, and the future of US-Iran relations.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Nov 19, 202157:55
Nuclear Negotiations with Iran

Nuclear Negotiations with Iran

Panel discussion in September on TRT World about the future of nuclear negotiations and prospects for reviving the JCPOA.
Nov 16, 202127:50
Iran’s Hostage Taking

Iran’s Hostage Taking

Negar Mortazavi joins the VOX Media podcast “Today, Explained” to discuss Iran’s detention of dual-national citizens as political pawns, with host Sean Rameshwaram and Washington Post columnist Jason Rezaian.
Nov 04, 202125:57
Iran-Saudi Relations Panel at Gulf Institute
Oct 29, 202101:17:44
Gender Equality in Middle East

Gender Equality in Middle East

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Azadeh Moaveni, Director of Gender and Conflict at the International Crisis Group, about online threats against female journalists who cover Iran, women’s rights and the golden years of reform, how US policy has impacted Iranian women, and feminist movements across the Middle East.

Oct 23, 202140:42
Actor Farshad Farahat

Actor Farshad Farahat

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Iranian-American actor, Farshad Farahat, about his career in Hollywood and his political activism in support of peace and diplomacy between Iran and the United States.
Oct 08, 202141:04