Since we recorded this episode, the situation in and around Iran has shifted dramatically.

In the morning of Saturday the 28th of February, the US and Israel launched extensive air and

missile strikes on targets across Iran, resulting in significant damage, the death of the

Supreme Leader Alehameh and many of the Iranian leadership, and many civilian casualties

as well. Iran has responded with its own missile and drone attacks against Israeli and US positions

in the region, with the conflict broadening across the Gulf and beyond, with global political

and economic repercussions. Although Afwa and I recorded this episode just a few

hours before the attacks began, it provides context and underlines the importance of what is at stake.

Afwa, I know we've talked a few times about the role that Iran has played, an outsized role

that it's played in thinking about geopolitics the last 30, 40 years, but their story of Iran has played, an outsized role that it's played, in thinking about geopolitics

the last 30, 40 years. But their story of Iran has so much deeper resonance that goes back many

centuries, too. It goes back centuries, Peter. And I feel, of all major nations, it's one

that has been so deeply interwoven with its neighbours in the region, with major powers, with Russia,

with Afghanistan, with Syria, but also with Western nations in Europe, with the US.

And it's a complex puzzle, to unpick, not helped, I feel, by the very inflammatory rhetoric

around Iran, by the agendas that other

powers have towards wanting to see their own goals played out in Iran. So it can be very confusing.

You're such an expert on Iran. I've learned a lot from reading your books about the history of Iran

and how that helps us understand the present. I'm really keen to get more of an insider perspective

from people who spend their time living, working, studying, talking to people in Iran, interpreting

the rhetoric of the regime, the decisions and responses from the rest of the world to really see

what we need to know right now, because there is no doubt it is such a major issue and it could

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