Pressure Is Mounting on Iran's Regime

The podcast explores the ongoing protests in Iran, triggered by economic desperation and exacerbated by international tensions. Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director for the International Crisis Group, explains that the protests are unique due to their widespread nature across different social classes and geographic locations. The Iranian Rial's dramatic weakening, driven by sanctions and economic mismanagement, has fueled public discontent. The government's response has shifted from offering minor concessions to brutal crackdowns, further complicated by President Trump's threats of intervention. While the regime is in a death spiral, its collapse is hard to predict, and a transition could have varying consequences for the Middle East, ranging from a weakened Iran contained in a box to a chaotic failed state.