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Best of the Spectator

Americano: will Iran descend into civil war?

Best of the Spectator

The Spectator

News, Daily News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.3826 Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2026

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Freddy is joined by historian and former diplomat, Charlie Gammell. They discuss the situation in Iran, whether the US is heading for a decisive confrontation, and examine the regional consequences: proxy warfare, Gulf energy security, Pakistan’s delicate position, and migration pressures on Europe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello and welcome back to the Americano show.

0:08.7

My name is Freddie Gray.

0:10.1

I am the deputy editor of the spectator and the US editor.

0:14.0

And I'm pleased to tell you that this is the 10th year of the Americano podcast.

0:19.6

And I think it's fair to say it's been a fairly fascinating time

0:23.4

in American politics, life and culture. And that's what we talk about every episode on this

0:30.7

podcast. So please keep listening and provide as much feedback as you like. I'm delighted to be

0:36.5

joined here at the Spectators's offices by Charlie Gammon,

0:40.3

who is formerly of the Foreign Office on the Iran desk.

0:45.3

He's also the author of The Pearl of Corrassan, A History of Herat.

0:51.7

Charlie, you have written a piece over the weekend,

0:55.8

a very good piece for the spectator,

0:58.0

on what's been going on in Iran.

1:01.7

Today, more developments.

1:09.7

Donald Trump has just said that the big one is referring to a wave, I think, another wave of attacks. The timeline is ambiguous at the moment,

1:14.1

as far as what the Americans are thinking. Trump said it could be four weeks. We could go longer

1:19.5

if we need to. He's also said he thinks it could be shorter. He has said all sorts of things to all sorts of journalists. What is your latest impression

1:32.2

of what is going on? So I think potentially the interesting development I've seen in the

1:37.9

American narrative, you've seen Pete Heggseth today talking about giving the Iranians a once-in-a-generation

1:42.8

opportunity to knock over the Islamic

1:45.4

Republic for the last time, as it were. And I think Trump's talked potentially about talking

1:50.4

to sane people within the Islamic Republic and giving the Islamic Republic an off-ramp.

...

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