Welcome to the FDB Situation Report. Our very first episode of 2020. Happy New Year. I'm Mike Baker. Your eyes and ear is on the world stage. All right, let's get

briefed. First up, anger is spilling into the streets of Tehran, and several people are dead as

protests sweep the nation, turning economic despair into open defiance of Iran's clerical regime

in the IRGC. Shirin Naraman, a human rights advocate and a former political prisoner in Iran with a fascinating

backstory joins us to share that story and offer insight into the situation on the ground.

Later in the show, Israel closes out a turbulent 2025 marked by war in Gaza and open conflict with Iran, with big questions looming

about what comes next, not just for Israel and Gaza, but for basically the entire Middle East.

We'll be joined by former UK ambassador to Yemen, Edmund Fitton Brown, for a look ahead.

But first, today's situation reports spotlight.

Pressure inside Iran is building fast, with anger spilling into the streets of Tephyr But first, today's situation reports spotlight.

Pressure inside Iran is building fast, with anger spilling into the streets of Tehran.

Protests have surged through the city's historic bazaar districts where merchants have shut down jobs and launched multi-day strikes.

Now, what started as outrage over a collapsing economy, soaring inflation, plunding currency,

and rising unemployment, has turned into something far bigger. Chance, calling for the end of the

clerical regime, are now ringing out, reflecting years of pent-up frustration over repression,

corruption, mismanagement, and abuse. As unrest grows at home, the regime is lashing out abroad,

issuing increasingly extreme threats. It's a sign not of strength, of course, but of fear.

When Iran's merchants, workers, and students all move together, history suggests that momentum

could build quickly. For more on this, we'll turn to Shireen Nariman,

a human rights advocate and former political prisoner in Iran. Sharin, thank you very much for

joining us here on the PDB Situation Report. Thank you. Good morning and thank you so much for

having me at your program. Oh, absolutely. I think it would be very helpful for all

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