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The Iran Podcast

The Iran Podcast

By Negar Mortazavi

Conversations on Iranian politics, society, and culture with host Negar Mortazavi.

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US and Iran, Tension or Diplomacy?

The Iran PodcastJun 02, 2023

00:00
27:23
US and Iran, Tension or Diplomacy?

US and Iran, Tension or Diplomacy?

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and a lecturer in international affairs at George Washington University, about US-Iran tensions, possibilities for nuclear diplomacy and prisoner swaps, Iran’s domestic repression and shift to the East, and a new geo-political landscape in the Middle East.


Iran Podcast is sponsored by the Center for International Policy in Washington.

Jun 02, 202327:23
Woman, Life, Freedom

Woman, Life, Freedom

Welcome to the new season of Iran Podcast. In this episode Negar Mortazavi, journalist and Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy, speaks to Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver, about the recent mass uprising in Iran that started after the killing of Mahsa Jina Amini in September 2022.


Iran Podcast is sponsored by the ⁠Center for International Policy⁠ in Washington.

May 24, 202332:23
Remembering John Tirman

Remembering John Tirman

Our guest John Tirman, Executive Director of the MIT Center for International Studies and an expert on US-Iran relations, has passed away. We had the honor of hosting professor Tirman a few months before his passing to discuss his last book, Republics of Myth. Here is that conversation from May 2022.
Sep 01, 202246:41
Salman Rushdie and Iran

Salman Rushdie and Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver, about the attack on Salman Rushdie, the Fatwa by Iran, and the response to the Satanic Verses across the Muslim world.
Aug 20, 202232:50
Will Iran Return to the Deal?

Will Iran Return to the Deal?

Negar Mortazavi discussed Iran nuclear negotiations discussion on The Newsmakers with Hassan Ahmadian at Tehran University and Ali Fathollahnejad at the American University of Beirut.
Aug 11, 202226:55
University of Chicago panel

University of Chicago panel

Negar Mortazavi joins a panel discussion at the University of Chicago’s Pearson Institute, about Iran’s foreign and domestic policies under the new hardline administration of Ebrahim Raisi, with Mahsa Rouhi, Vali Nasr, Pouya Alimagham and Ali Vaez.
Aug 05, 202201:01:21
US-Iran on Talk World Radio

US-Iran on Talk World Radio

Negar Mortazavi joined David Swanson on Talk World Radio to discuss US-Iran relations and the latest in nuclear negotiations. This conversation was recorded on July 26th. 


Aug 05, 202228:46
Representation of Iranians in Western Media

Representation of Iranians in Western Media

How are Iranians represented in Western media and cultural products? Iran Podcast host Negar Mortazavi joins a panel discussion with Assal Rad, Yahya Kamalipour, and Mehran Kamrava hosted by the Iranian Studies Program at the Arab Center.
Aug 02, 202259:46
Press The Button

Press The Button

Negar Mortazavi joins Tom Collina, policy director at Ploughshares Fund, on “Press The Button” podcast to discuss the future of Iran nuclear negotiations, the current stalemate in Vienna, and prospects for reaching an agreement.
Jun 24, 202239:11
Iran and the GCC

Iran and the GCC

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Giorgio Cafiero, the CEO of Gulf State Analytics, about Iran’s relations with the GCC, US policy towards the region, the Abraham Accords, and the impact of the Ukraine war on the region.
Jun 04, 202201:07:09
Afghanistan, Women & Peace

Afghanistan, Women & Peace

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics, about Afghanistan after the US withdrawal and under the Taliban, the fate of women peacemakers who were left behind. Sanam has two decades of experience as a peace strategist working globally on conflicts, crises and violent extremism with a mix of civil society, governments and the UN. She was appointed to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours list for services to International peace building and Women’s Rights.
May 18, 202242:58
US-Iran Tensions and Misperceptions

US-Iran Tensions and Misperceptions

Negar Mortazavi speaks to John Tirman, Director of MIT Center for International Studies, about four decades of animosity between Iran and the United States, key historical events that have caused the enmity, and how the national narratives of the two countries put them at odds over the decades.
May 07, 202246:41
Israeli-Arab Ties and Iran

Israeli-Arab Ties and Iran

A number of Arab countries have normalized ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Negar Mortazavi joined a panel of experts to discuss Israeli-Arab cooperation, concerns over Iran, and the stalled Palestinian peace process with Omar Baddar, co-host of “This is Palestine” podcast, Paul Salem, President of the Middle East Institute, and Dan Arbell, a 25-year veteran of the Israeli Foreign Service, hosted by Nathan King on CGTN's "The Heat".
Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo art by Mina Jafari.
May 07, 202228:54
Ukraine War & the Middle East

Ukraine War & the Middle East

Negar Mortazavi moderates a panel discussion at George Washington University about Russia’s attack on l Ukraine and its implications on the Middle East Security Complex, with Alex Vatanka from MEI, Sina Azodi from GWU and Nicole Grajewski from Harvard.
May 05, 202201:00:22
Ukraine, Russia, and Iran Talks

Ukraine, Russia, and Iran Talks

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Tom Collina, Policy Director at Ploughshares Fund, about the war in Ukraine, how nuclear weapons enabled Russia’s attack, and why the JCPOA is a good deal.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Apr 05, 202240:58
The Nuclear Option

The Nuclear Option

Negar Mortazavi joined Alicia McBride and Jack Gordon on Tacoma Radio to discuss US-Iran diplomacy and nuclear disarmament. The program is called Interfaithish that brings people of different beliefs and cultural backgrounds together to talk about our commonalities and differences.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support 

Apr 01, 202258:04
Back Home Beer

Back Home Beer

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Zahra Tabatabai, founder and CEO of Back Home Beer, who is brewing beer in New York with flavors from Iran that are inspired by her grandfather’s old recipes. She uses ingredients sourced from the Middle East like Sumac, sour cherries, and a special Persian blue salt that is mined in Iran.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Mar 10, 202227:46
Ukraine, Russian, and Iran

Ukraine, Russian, and Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Mark Fitzpatrick, former acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Non-Proliferation, about Russia’s attack on Ukraine, threats of a nuclear standoff, the Budapest Memorandum, Chernobyl, and the current Iran nuclear talks in Vienna.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Mar 05, 202246:53
Final Stage of Nuclear Talks

Final Stage of Nuclear Talks

Negar Mortazavi and Tom O’Connor discuss the final stage of the nuclear talks, and the importance of domestic politics in Tehran and Washington, hosted on Twitter Space with host Saeed Azimi.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 25, 202201:35:60
Biden, Menendez & JCPOA

Biden, Menendez & JCPOA

A conversation hosted on Los Angeles Public Radio about Biden’s nuclear diplomacy with Iran and opposition from Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, with Estee Chandler and Assal Rad.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 24, 202227:21
Demonizing Iranians (2/2)

Demonizing Iranians (2/2)

A conversation about the dehumanization of Iranians in US political discourse, media coverage, and cultural products, and how it leads to bad policies that harm Iranians in Iran as well as Iranian-Americans in the United States. Negar Mortazavi moderated this live conversation on Twitter Space with Assal Rad from NIAC, Niki Akhavan from Catholic University, and Pouya Alimagham from MIT.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 19, 202248:03
Demonizing Iranians (1/2)

Demonizing Iranians (1/2)

A conversation about the dehumanization of Iranians in US political discourse, media coverage, and cultural products, and how it leads to bad policies that harm Iranians in Iran as well as Iranian-Americans in the United States. Negar Mortazavi moderated this live conversation on Twitter Space with Assal Rad from NIAC, Niki Akhavan from Catholic University, and Pouya Alimagham from MIT.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 19, 202249:60
The Future of Afghanistan

The Future of Afghanistan

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Vali Nasr, former US advisor for Afghanistan, about the current state of Afghanistan after two decades of invasion and the chaotic US withdrawal, devastating economic sanctions and new waves of refugees, and the future of the country under Taliban rule.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Feb 10, 202244:17
US-Iran Diplomacy

US-Iran Diplomacy

A conversation about US-Iran relations, nuclear negotiations, the impact of sanctions, and the difficult path ahead for diplomacy. This conversation was recorded live on Twitter Spaces with Trita Parsi from Quincy Institute, Ryan Costello from NIAC, and Sara Haghdoosti from Win Without War, and moderated by Negar Mortazavi.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Jan 03, 202201:24:43
On NPR & Democracy Now!

On NPR & Democracy Now!

Negar Mortazavi talks about the latest developments in the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna in two interviews on NPR and Democracy Now! We also hear a message from our listener & supporter, Justice Arman in Texas.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Dec 21, 202116:59
Can the JCPOA Survive?

Can the JCPOA Survive?

A discussion about the current nuclear negotiations in Vienna and the future of the Iran nuclear deal, with Negar Mortazavi, Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute, and Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute, moderated by Bruce Fein and hosted by the National Interest Foundation in Washington DC.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Dec 11, 202101:12:44
Iran-Saudi-US Relations

Iran-Saudi-US Relations

Panel discussion at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor’s School of Public Policy with Negar Mortazavi, John Limbert, Hesham Alghannam, David Des Roches, and moderated by Dania Thafer of the GIF.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Dec 07, 202101:29:21
Attacks on Female Journalists

Attacks on Female Journalists

Negar Mortazavi joins Angie Seth on Canadian television CTV to discuss racist and misogynistic attacks on female journalists across the world.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Nov 26, 202119:27
Actor Arian Moayed

Actor Arian Moayed

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Iranian-American actor Arian Moayed about playing an Iranian billionaire in the television show Succession and other roles in television and theater, growing up in America as an immigrant, and the future of US-Iran relations.

Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo by Mina Jafari.

To support the Iran Podcast, go to anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Nov 19, 202157:55
Nuclear Negotiations with Iran

Nuclear Negotiations with Iran

Panel discussion in September on TRT World about the future of nuclear negotiations and prospects for reviving the JCPOA.
Nov 16, 202127:50
Iran’s Hostage Taking

Iran’s Hostage Taking

Negar Mortazavi joins the VOX Media podcast “Today, Explained” to discuss Iran’s detention of dual-national citizens as political pawns, with host Sean Rameshwaram and Washington Post columnist Jason Rezaian.
Nov 04, 202125:57
Iran-Saudi Relations Panel at Gulf Institute
Oct 29, 202101:17:44
Gender Equality in Middle East

Gender Equality in Middle East

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Azadeh Moaveni, Director of Gender and Conflict at the International Crisis Group, about online threats against female journalists who cover Iran, women’s rights and the golden years of reform, how US policy has impacted Iranian women, and feminist movements across the Middle East.

Oct 23, 202140:42
Actor Farshad Farahat

Actor Farshad Farahat

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Iranian-American actor, Farshad Farahat, about his career in Hollywood and his political activism in support of peace and diplomacy between Iran and the United States.
Oct 08, 202141:04
Future of the Nuclear Deal

Future of the Nuclear Deal

Negar Mortazavi joins a panel discussion about the future of the nuclear deal and diplomacy between Tehran and Washington with Sussan Tahmasebi, Director of FEMENA, Jon Wolfstahl, senior advisor at Global Zero, and Eldar Mamedov, foreign policy adviser at the European Parliament. This discussion was moderated by Jamie Shea and hosted by Friends of Europe.
Oct 02, 202101:03:31
Panel at Arab Center

Panel at Arab Center

Iran Podcast host, Negar Mortazavi, joins a panel of foreign policy experts at the Arab Center in Washington, discussing US policy towards Iran and the future of the nuclear deal, with Barbara Slavin, Dalia Dassa Kaye, Ilan Goldenberg, and Mehran Kamrava.
Sep 23, 202101:07:19
Europe-Iran Relations in the Biden Era

Europe-Iran Relations in the Biden Era

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Eldar Mamedov, senior foreign policy advisor at the European Parliament, about Europe’s relations with Iran in the Biden era and the negative impacts of Trump’s maximum pressure policy.
Sep 16, 202145:01
‘Spilling Chai’ with Negar

‘Spilling Chai’ with Negar

Iran Podcast host Negar Mortazavi was a guest on another podcast "Spilling Chai" with Anushay Hossain, a journalist and author who is also based in Washington DC. They discussed the complexities of US-Iran relations, Negar's experience as a journalist covering diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, the difficulties of covering Iran from a distance and in exile, online trolling and cyber harassment of female journalists, and the Persian cultural practice of Tarof.
Sep 07, 202123:29
Iran’s Future Beyond the Headlines

Iran’s Future Beyond the Headlines

Iran Podcast's host Negar Mortazavi joins the "Beyond the Headlines" podcast with host Leila Gharagozlou and guest Adnan Tabatabai to discuss Iran's future under the new hardline president Ebrahim Raisi.
Aug 13, 202117:50
Iran’s Anti-Revolutionary Policy

Iran’s Anti-Revolutionary Policy

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Danny Postel, Assistant Director of the Center for International and Area Studies at Northwestern University, about Iran’s anti-revolutionary policy in the Middle East, specifically looking at the Islamic Republic's role in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.

Aug 09, 202138:54
Water Protests in Khuzestan

Water Protests in Khuzestan

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Mohammad Ali Kadivar, Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Studies at Boston College, about water protests in Khuzestan province and why there is an ongoing wave of protests across Iran in the past few years.
Jul 30, 202146:58
Nuclear Negotiations in Vienna

Nuclear Negotiations in Vienna

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Laura Rozen, journalist and member of the editorial board of Just Security, about the status of nuclear negotiations in Vienna and the past decade of diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.
Jul 17, 202142:55
Iran’s Labor Movement

Iran’s Labor Movement

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Peyman Jafari, a historian at Princeton University, about recent strikes by oil and petrochemical workers across Iran, and the history of Iran’s labor movement from the Constitutional Revolution to the present.
Jul 09, 202144:41
Reporting from Tehran

Reporting from Tehran

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Reza Sayah, journalist and filmmaker in Tehran, about Iran’s presidential elections, where the country will go under Raisi, and the fate of the nuclear deal and Iran’s engagement with the West.
Jun 28, 202136:24
The Iranian Election: A Debrief

The Iranian Election: A Debrief

The June 18th presidential election will bring significant changes for Iran and its relations with the West. With a hardliner taking power in August, questions remain: Will Ebrahim Raisi change Iran’s foreign and domestic policies? What will be the prospects for continued engagement between Iran and the West?
This is a special episode of the Iran Podcast recorded during a panel discussion featuring Negar Mortazavi, Bijan Khajehpour, Shervin Malekzadeh, and Sina Toossi, moderated by Sanam Shantyaei of France24 and hosted by the National Iranian American Council.

Jun 22, 202101:02:35
Iran Elections Under Microscope
Jun 18, 202129:33
Iran’s Next President

Iran’s Next President

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Rouzbeh Parsi about the significance of Iran’s upcoming presidential election, deep voter apathy and frustration, and why the hardline candidate Ebrahim Raisi should thank Donald Trump if he wins the election.

(Music by 127 - Design by Mina Jafari)

Jun 17, 202137:11
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Nazanin's husband Richard Ratcliffe, and their member of parliament Tulip Siddiq, about Nazanin's five-year detention in Iran, the pattern of hostage diplomacy by the Iranian government, the UK's £400m tank debt to Iran, and a family's years-long fight for freedom.

(Music by 127 Band - Design by Mina Jafari) 

Jun 11, 202138:38
Four Decades of Sanctions

Four Decades of Sanctions

Negar Mortazavi talks to Tyler Cullis about four decades of U.S. sanctions on Iran, the effectiveness of this policy tool, the human cost of sanctions, and how the Iranian-Americna community and the civil society have been pushing back against sanctions.
Jun 05, 202154:22
Iran’s Presidential Election

Iran’s Presidential Election

Negar Mortazavi talks to Sina Toosi about the upcoming presidential election in Iran, the mass disqualification of moderate and reformist candidates, and how the hardliner Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi is seen as the candidate set to win the race.
May 28, 202137:43
Comedy and Covid with Maz Jobrani

Comedy and Covid with Maz Jobrani

Negar Mortazavi speaks to comedian Maz Jobrani about comedy in the Covid19 era, being an immigrant in America and a Middle Easterner in Hollywood, and how Maz lost some friends and fans in the Trump era.

May 21, 202152:18
Human Rights in the Middle East
May 14, 202133:05
Washington’s Problem of Iran Expertise

Washington’s Problem of Iran Expertise

Negar Mortazavi speaks to political anthropologist Negar Razavi about the systemic problem of “Iran expertise” in Washington, how the U.S. foreign policy establishment has created a culture of expert impunity when it comes to Iran, the role of these experts and think tanks in shaping U.S. policies, and why those who provide nuance on Iran are constantly attacked and smeared.

May 07, 202101:01:04
Featured on Foreign Policy Magazine

Featured on Foreign Policy Magazine

Foreign Policy magazine has a podcast called Foreign Policy Playlist, which picks the best podcasts from around the world and introduces them to their listeners. And our Iran Podcast was recently featured on Foreign Policy Playlist. Jonathan Tepperman, Editor at Large of Foreign Policy, talked to Negar Mortazavi about the Iran Podcast, then played one of our episodes: The Ayatollahs No Longer Differ, a conversation with Hooman Majd.
Apr 30, 202153:55
Congressman Ro Khanna Interview

Congressman Ro Khanna Interview

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Congressman Ro Khanna about U.S. policy in the Middle East, the Biden administration’s diplomacy with Iran, the impact of U.S. sanctions on tech companies and users, increasing toxicity on social media and platform accountability, the rise of far right extremism in the United States, and the chances of Donald Trump becoming President again.

Apr 23, 202121:60
Decolonizing Foreign Affairs

Decolonizing Foreign Affairs

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Terrell Starr, host of the Black Diplomats podcast, about US foreign policy and media. Then we will hear an episode of his podcast about Building Peace with Iran, where Negar Mortazavi was a guest.
Apr 16, 202101:09:51
Viewing Iran Through the Arts

Viewing Iran Through the Arts

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Roya Khadjavi, a New York-based curator who showcases young and emerging artists from Iran. Roya talks about her mission to introduce new generations of Iranian artists to the West, and how US-Iran tensions impact her work and the life of these young artists.
Apr 09, 202134:30
Sanctions Are Forever Wars

Sanctions Are Forever Wars

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Peter Beinart about sanctions and how the United States has been using this tool to choke weaker adversaries, pressuring large populations without much policy gain.

Subscribe to The Beinart Notebook on Substack: peterbeinart.substack.com

Apr 02, 202130:32
Grassroots Against Sanctions

Grassroots Against Sanctions

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Sima Shakhsari and Assal Rad about a new grassroots movement in the US against sanctions on Iran. A coalition of Iranian-American academics, activists, and artists is trying to pressure the Biden administration to lift sanctions on Iran. *Music by Aida Shahghasemi.
Mar 26, 202142:41
Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif about the current impasse in diplomacy between Tehran and Washington and a sequence of return to the nuclear deal; President Biden’s interest in follow-on negotiations on Iran’s missile program, regional presence and human rights; Iran’s fight against Covid19 and plans for mass vaccination; the IRGC shooting down of the Ukrainian plane last year; and whether Zarif will run for president.
*This interview was recorded for Politico magazine on March 15, 2021.
Mar 23, 202127:25
A War Correspondent in Middle East

A War Correspondent in Middle East

Negar Mortazavi talks to Borzou Daragahi, International Correspondent for The Independent who has been covering conflicts in the Middle East for two decades. They discuss the current impasse in US-Iran diplomacy, the war in Syria, corruption in Lebanon, rivalry between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and new friendships between Israel and Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
Mar 19, 202134:40
Revisiting the 1979 Revolution

Revisiting the 1979 Revolution

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Mohsen Milani, Founding Executive Director of Center for Strategic & Diplomatic Studies at University of South Florida, about the 1979 revolution in Iran, America’s position towards the revolution and the significance of the hostage crisis, and today’s situation in Iran and similarities and differences with the years leading to 1979.
Mar 12, 202137:57
Iranian Public Opinion in Biden Era

Iranian Public Opinion in Biden Era

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Nancy Gallagher, Director of the Center for International and Security Studies at University of Maryland, about Iranian public opinion on Covid19, economy, nuclear policy, regional security, and domestic politics, based on two in-depth surveys fielded in September-October 2020 and January-February 2021.
Mar 04, 202145:53
Restraint in US Foreign Policy

Restraint in US Foreign Policy

Negar Mortazavi speaks to John Glaser, director of foreign policy at the Cato Institute, about America's role in the world and the case for Restraint in US foreign policy that calls for reducing America's global military presence and decades of wars and armed intervention in the Middle East. (Interview was recorded on February 23)
Producer: Joshua Barlow - Music: 127Band
Feb 26, 202145:23
Cultural Exchanges with Iran

Cultural Exchanges with Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Fatemeh Keshavarz, Director of School of Languages and Cultures at University of Maryland, about the importance of people-to-people exchanges with Iran, the role of arts and culture in making bridges, how the poetry of Rumi and Hafez and other prominent Persian poets has lived on for centuries, and about her life growing up in the city of Shiraz.
Music by 127Band
Feb 19, 202149:21
US & Iran: Wrestling Ghosts of History

US & Iran: Wrestling Ghosts of History

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Ambassador John Limbert, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iran and one of the last US diplomats to serve in Tehran where he was taken hostage in 1979. They discuss four decades of animosity between Tehran and Washington and how both sides have been wrestling with the ghosts of history.
Feb 12, 202147:43
Returning to the Nuclear Deal

Returning to the Nuclear Deal

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Kelsey Davenport, Director of Nonproliferation at the Arms Control Association, about the current state of Iran’s nuclear program, the limits set by the JCPOA, Iran’s past nuclear activities, and the path forward for a full return to the Iran nuclear deal.
Feb 05, 202133:24
A Progressive Foreign Policy

A Progressive Foreign Policy

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Matt Duss, foreign policy adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders, about a progressive vision for US foreign policy towards the Middle East, two decades after 9/11 and the global war on terror.
Jan 29, 202131:17
Humanitarian Impact of Sanctions

Humanitarian Impact of Sanctions

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Erica Moret about the effectiveness of sanctions as a foreign policy tool, the various different types of sanctions, and their humanitarian impact on targeted countries.
(Music by 127)
Jan 22, 202137:16
Ukrainian Flight PS752

Ukrainian Flight PS752

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Michael Page from Human Rights Watch about the Ukraine International Flight PS752 that was shot down by IRGC missiles over Tehran on 8 January 2020, and the year-long fight for truth and justice.
Jan 15, 202132:03
Assassinations in Iran

Assassinations in Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Paul Pillar, veteran CIA analyst, about heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, the possibility of a military conflict, and the future of US-Iran diplomacy after Trump.

Jan 08, 202136:22
The Execution of Ruhollah Zam

The Execution of Ruhollah Zam

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Mani Mostofi, Director of Miaan Group, about the recent execution of Ruhollah Zam, the international mechanism of human rights, and how to hold abusers accountable.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Dec 30, 202050:41
Continuity in Iran’s Nuclear Program

Continuity in Iran’s Nuclear Program

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Sina Azodi from the Atlantic Council about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the history of continuity in the country’s nuclear program since it started under the Shah and continued under the Islamic Republic.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Dec 11, 202032:12
Europe's Role in US-Iran Diplomacy

Europe's Role in US-Iran Diplomacy

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Azadeh Zamirirad, Deputy Head of Middle East and Africa at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, about Europe’s role in diplomacy between Iran and the US, how the Europeans helped nuclear negotiations succeed in the past and what they can do to help deescalate tensions and restart diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Dec 03, 202035:46
The Ayatollahs No Longer Differ

The Ayatollahs No Longer Differ

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Hooman Majd, an Iranian-American author and journalist, about contemporary Iranian politics. He was born in a diplomatic family before the 1979 revolution in Iran, attended school in Europe, and now lives in New York. He has written three books on Iran; The Ayatollah Begs to Differ (2008), The Ayatollahs’ Democracy (2010), and The Ministry of Guidance Invites You to Not Stay (2013).

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Nov 29, 202045:37
America and Iran: A History

America and Iran: A History

Negar Mortazavi speaks with John Ghazvinian, Executive Director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania, about the history of US-Iran relations over the past few centuries since 1720, and how the two countries went from mutual admiration and close ties to mutual hatred. 

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Nov 19, 202035:22
Iran Disinfo & Heshmat Alavi

Iran Disinfo & Heshmat Alavi

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Murtaza Hussain from The Intercept and Eli Clifton from Responsible Statecraft about a State Department project called IRAN DISINFO that attacked journalists and academics who were critical of Trump's Iran policy, as well as a fake online persona called Heshmat Alavi that is run by the MEK and has been retweeted by Donald Trump.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Nov 02, 202035:39
The Muslim Ban

The Muslim Ban

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Azadeh Shahshahani, Legal and Advocacy Director at Project South, about Donald Trump’s Travel Ban on Iranians and other nations, how political tensions between Washington and Tehran impact Iranians living in and traveling to the US, and FBI’s surveillance of Iranians and other Muslim communities in the US.

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. Music by 127.

Oct 26, 202030:04
Politics of Music in Iran

Politics of Music in Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Nahid Siamdoust, visiting Assistant Professor at Harvard University, about music after the 1979 revolution in Iran through the Iran-Iraq war, the post-war era of pop music, political music inspired by the 2009 green movement, and today's musicians in the diaspora, in memory of legendary Iranian singer the late Mohammadreza Shajarian. (Music by Shajarian, Koveitipoor, Shabpareh, Parnaz&Ashkan).

*This episode was made possible with support from Heinrich Boll Foundation. 

Oct 15, 202039:11
Iran Nuclear Deal

Iran Nuclear Deal

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Joe Cirincione, nuclear policy expert and former President of Ploughshares Fund, about the Iran nuclear deal as part of the global nonproliferation movement, why the JCPOA was a good deal, and how a potential Biden administration can revive this agreement.
Oct 10, 202034:35
An Iranian-American on Television

An Iranian-American on Television

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Asieh Namdar, a news anchor at CGTN America and a former anchor at CNN, about immigrating to the U.S. as a child in the height of the 1979 revolution and the hostage crisis in Iran, being one of the first Iranian-Americans on television, and dealing with toxic attacks on journalists online.

(Music by 127)

Oct 02, 202038:28
Islamic Republic & Human Rights

Islamic Republic & Human Rights

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Hadi Ghaemi, founder and Executive Director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, about the execution of a young wrestler named Navid Afkari in Iran, ongoing protests against the government, how the state is using violence to crack down on protesters, and human rights violations in the Islamic Republic since the eve of the 1979 revolution.

Sep 21, 202047:45
National Iranian American Council

National Iranian American Council

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, about political participation in the Trump era and why the largest Iranian-American grassroots organization decided to endorse Biden for President.

(Music by 127)

Sep 16, 202036:19
Iran's #MeToo Moment

Iran's #MeToo Moment

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Sussan Tahmasebi, Iranian-American feminist and Director of FEMENA, about a Me Too moment in Iran as a large number of women and men on social media are breaking taboos and sharing stories of sexual abuse.

(Music by 127)

Sep 07, 202044:08
When IRGC Tried to Recruit a Spy

When IRGC Tried to Recruit a Spy

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Behdad Esfahbod, an Iranian-Canadian computer engineer who has worked for Facebook and Google. Behdad was arrested on a personal trip to Iran and was pressured by the IRGC to spy for them. He was imprisoned and put in solitary confinement for one week and asked about internet freedom and activists outside Iran who work to help Iranian users circumvent government censorship in Iran. 

*This special episode was recorded live on Instagram.

Aug 28, 202035:08
Successful Diplomacy with Iran

Successful Diplomacy with Iran

We speak with Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute on how Obama’s diplomacy with Iran succeeded, why Trump has not been able to bring Iran to the negotiating table, and how a Biden administration should engage with Iran.

Aug 25, 202052:58
Trump vs Tehran

Trump vs Tehran

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Michael Singh, Managing Director at the Washington Institute, about the Trump administration’s Iran policy and the future of the JCPOA under a second Trump term or a Biden presidency. 

(Music by 127)

Aug 17, 202032:40
Iran and Canada

Iran and Canada

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Thomas Juneau, associate professor at the University of Ottawa and former analyst at Canada's Department of National Defence, about diplomatic relations between Iran and Canada over the past decades and key events that have impacted Ottawa's policy towards Tehran.

(Music by 127)

Aug 10, 202045:31
Media and Cultural Products in Iran

Media and Cultural Products in Iran

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Narges Bajoghli, an anthropologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University, about how the Islamic Republic uses media to shape narratives in Iran and beyond its borders, how diaspora media provide competitive narratives, how American media cover Iran, and why Iran is still poorly understood in the US.

(Music by 127)

Jul 29, 202044:11
Human Rights in Iran

Human Rights in Iran

We speak with Tara Sepehri Far, researcher at Human Rights Watch, about the three young men sentenced to death for November 2019 protests, the efficacy of online campaigns and domestic civil society organizations against the death penalty, the successful effort to reduce the executions for drug offenses, and the impact of sanctions on human rights.
Jul 25, 202041:52
Growing up Iranian in America

Growing up Iranian in America

Description: We speak to Yara Elmjouie, an award-winning journalist at Aljazeera, about growing up as an Iranian-American in a small town in California, how the 2009 Green Movement impacted his views on Iran, his television shows about food and social justice, and how US sanctions have led to American companies censoring the identities of Iranian-Americans.
Jul 14, 202043:01
Internet Freedom in Iran

Internet Freedom in Iran

We speak to Mahsa Alimardani at Oxford University about internet freedom in Iran, how the state censors the internet, how Iranians use circumvention tools to go around the censorship, and how US sanctions on technology limits access to internet for Iranians.
Jul 05, 202048:29
Iran’s role in the Middle East

Iran’s role in the Middle East

We speak with Vali Nasr about Bolton’s book and Iran, on Trump’s maximum pressure campaign, the costs and benefits for Iran should they hold talks with the US, possibility of return to JCPOA if Biden wins 2020, Iran’s upcoming presidential elections, Iran’s regional policies, Iran’s position against Israel and the consequences of it.
Jun 30, 202039:38
Protests in the US and protests in Iran

Protests in the US and protests in Iran

We speak to Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at University of Denver, about ongoing protests in the US and how they have inspired anti-racism movements around the world, recent protests in Iran and across the Middle East, and how US foreign policy towards the region impacts movements for democratic governance.
Jun 11, 202037:02
Can Trump make a deal with Iran?

Can Trump make a deal with Iran?

We speak to Barbara Slavin, Director of the Future Iran initiative at Atlantic Council, about Iran's reaction to racial justice protests across the US, prisoner swaps between Iran and the US, Iran’s loan request from IMF and US attempts to block it, US trying to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran, and the future of US-Iran tensions if Biden is elected.

(Music by 127)

Jun 05, 202031:58
Iran's Economy under Covid19

Iran's Economy under Covid19

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Bijan Khajehpour, an economist and a managing partner at EUNEPA, about Covid19 in Iran and how the pandemic combined with US sanctions have seriously impacted Iran's economy.

(Music by 127)

May 26, 202036:45