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The Rest Is Politics

513. Inside Iran: The Country Trump Cannot Control? (Question Time)

The Rest Is Politics

Goalhanger

News, Politics, Government

4.511.5K Ratings

🗓️ 19 March 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Why are the US and the West as a whole so bad at understanding the cultures of other countries, including Iran, and what do they miss as a result? How will the Iran war unfold over the next six months? Has Trump unleashed a war he ultimately cannot control or end? Rory, Alastair, and Iran expert Karim Sadjadpour answer all these questions and more. __________ Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. To sign up and for terms and conditions, visit fuseenergy.com/politics. __________ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @restispolitics Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com __________ Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Josh Smith, Vasco Andrade, Lorcan Moullier Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne Producer: Evan Green Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer General Manager: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Thanks for listening to The Restis Politics. To support the podcast, listen without the adverts and get early access to episodes and live show tickets, go to therestispolitics Time with me, Rory Stewart.

0:23.3

And me, Alastair Campbell.

0:24.7

And today we've done something rather unusual, which actually Alistair deserves credit for,

0:28.6

which is that he said, rather than the two of us answering endless questions on Iran,

0:33.5

we might actually get a genuinely deep Iran expert.

0:36.6

So we've got my friend Kareem Sajadpur, who is himself, obviously, originally of Iranian

0:42.1

descent, but has been the leading analyst at the International Crisis Group and then, again,

0:48.2

more recently, the Carnegie Endowment.

0:50.4

He is somebody who understands Iran very well, but actually perhaps even more, he understands the US debate on Iran very, very, very well.

1:00.5

He is going to be with us as we answer your questions.

1:04.5

And my goodness, we have had hundreds of your questions.

1:07.8

We are absolutely delighted to have you with us, Kareem.

1:10.7

Rory and I have quoted your

1:11.8

work in Foreign Policy Magazine many, many times in recent days or weeks. Let's just kick off with

1:17.9

where we are in terms of the theme of nationalism and Iranian public opinion more generally. Leo,

1:24.4

why are the Iranian people so split in their opinion of this war?

1:28.6

Matea, why do we see so little or no sign of uprising?

1:32.5

Is this Iranian regime control of the rally around the flag effect?

1:37.2

And Iris Seiram asks a similar question.

1:39.6

So let's start with that.

1:41.1

It's great to be with both of you.

1:42.7

And those are very important questions,

...

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