Flashpoint Iran - Voice of America: Recent Episodes
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Flashpoint Iran offers in-depth analysis of the rising tensions in Iran and a big picture understanding of daily events.
VOA Persian’s Roozbeh Bolhari on the economic hardships driving Iran’s surge in Labor Day protests and strikes. California State University’s Nayereh Tohidi on participating in rare online public dialogue with dissidents in Iran. Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Jonathan Schanzer on what is driving a potential Jordan-Iran reconciliation.
University of Haifa’s Shaul Chorev and Alexander Grinberg on hosting speech by exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi. Wisconsin Project’s Valerie Lincy assesses U.S. sanctions against suppliers of parts to Iran’s military drone program. Canadian MP Ali Ehsassi on Ottawa’s effort to achieve justice for victims of Iran’s 2020 downing of Ukrainian passenger flight PS752.
Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Patrick Clawson on Reza Pahlavi’s Israel visit and quick moves toward Iran-Saudi normalization. Jigsaw CEO Yasmin Green on what to expect from Iran’s new camera surveillance system for mandatory hijab compliance. International Civil Society Action Network CEO Sanam Naraghi Anderlini on role models for Iranians seeking peaceful regime change.
American Enterprise Institute researcher Kitaneh Fitzpatrick on renewed wave of poisonings at girls’ schools in Iran. University of Washington sociologist Ramin Jabbarli on Iran looking for new ways to pressure Azerbaijan amid rising bilateral tensions. U.S.-based activist Gazelle Sharmahd on joining forces with families of other Westerners jailed in Iran to fight for their release.
Former Israeli national security adviser Yaakov Amidror on increase in apparent Israeli air strikes against Iranian forces and their proxies in Syria. Nuclear Threat Initiative’s Eric Brewer on IAEA director-general’s latest comments about Iran’s implementation of pledge to resume UN monitoring of its nuclear activities. FDD researcher Annie Fixler on how Iran benefits from Russia’s cyber warfare tools.
University of Oklahoma analyst Joshua Landis on why U.S. conflict with Iran’s Syria proxies may escalate. Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Matthew Levitt on why U.S. will not want to be bullied into leaving Syria. Mahnaz Afkhami, last woman to serve as minister in Iran before its 1979 Islamic Revolution, on how memory of women’s rights from that era inspires young female protesters today.
Iranians celebrate a season of renewal, despite a difficult year marked by economic woes and tensions on the streets. A proposal for a new U.S. policy of maximum support for the Iranian people is taking shape. The daughter of retired American FBI agent Robert Levinson on her family’s search for answers 16 years after his disappearance in Iran.
Middle East Institute on why Saudi Arabia worked with China to get a normalization deal with Iran. Iranian-born Belgian lawmaker Darya Safai on overcoming obstacles to the EU designating Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist organization. Foundation for Defense of Democracies on why Brazil allowed two Iranian warships to dock in Rio de Janeiro over U.S. objections.
VOA Persian managing editor on how Iranian authorities responded to public outrage over their inaction as poison attacks on Iranian school girls escalate. Atlantic Council analyst examines possible motives for the attacks. Exiled Venezuelan opposition figure on why West should worry about growing economic ties between Iran and autocratic Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Geneva correspondent on how Western diplomats reacted to Iranian foreign minister’s UN Human Rights Council speech. VOA Persian TV host on his interviews with dissidents in Iran who used hunger strikes to win concessions in prison. Iranian American journalist on how young Iranian American protesters in Los Angeles found common cause with counterparts in Iran.
An Iranian American human rights lawyer discusses how the closure of Iran International TV studios in London due to threats from Tehran may affect the Iranian diaspora; the Israeli ambassador to U.S. talks about how Israel is seeking deterrence against Iran. Former White House National Security Council official offers views on why the U.S. should reinstate sanctions on Iranian-Russian civilian nuclear projects.
NATO makes more ammo as Munich Defense Conference begins. A conversation about holding Russia accountable and what it would take to achieve peace. Plus, a look at training camp for operators of Ukraine’s new Leopard 2 tanks and a special award for someone in the Flashpoint family.
Israeli Ambassador to U.S. Michael Herzog in exclusive interview on Iran’s proximity to nuclear weapon-making capability and working with U.S. to block Iran’s path to a bomb. International Crisis Group analyst on how U.S. benefits from sanctions waivers for Iranian-Russian civilian nuclear projects. Preview of Iranian FM’s appearance this month at UN Human Rights Council.
VOA Persian managing editor on Shervin Hajipour’s Grammy-winning “Baraye” inspiring novel protest in Iran. Kayhan London’s managing editor on growing reform debate in Iran’s establishment. U.S. National Security Council’s John Kirby to VOA on stopping Iran from using Western components in drones. Citizen Lab researcher on Iran’s mobile legal intercept system.
Former Israeli national security adviser on how Israel benefits from covert attacks on Iran’s military sites. ARTICLE 19 researcher on how Iran is fighting U.S. tech companies that help Iranians get online with VPNs. IranWire founder on education project with U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to counter Holocaust denial in Iran.
VOA Persian TV producer on what Iran’s protesters want exiled opposition leaders to do in support. American Enterprise Institute researcher on how Iran’s protest organizers are responding to a lull in protest activity. German lawmaker Ye-One Rhie on what she’s learned from being a political sponsor of jailed Iranian rapper and dissident Toomaj Salehi.
VOA Persian TV producer on what Iran’s protesters want exiled opposition leaders to do in support. American Enterprise Institute researcher on how Iran’s protest organizers are responding to a lull in protest activity. German lawmaker Ye-One Rhie on what she’s learned from being a political sponsor of jailed Iranian rapper and dissident Toomaj Salehi.
Iran executed a British Iranian national, even though Britain and the United States had urged Iran not to carry out the death penalty. What’s behind the estimated 31% jump in Iran’s crude oil and gas condensates exports in 2022? And how Western sanctions against Iran and Russia drive them to develop new trade routes.
VOA Persian journalist on how Iranians mobilize on social media and in real life to try to save jailed protesters from execution. FDD analyst on impact of four months of protests on Iran’s Islamist rulers. CNAS analyst on why petrochemicals are so important for Iran as the US toughens sanctions on Iranian oil.
The U.S.-based human rights monitor Human Rights Activists News Agency says that 516 people have been killed in protests in Iran since they began nearly four months ago. CNAS Russia military analyst on how Moscow benefits from acquiring Iranian drones to attack Ukraine. Jewish Policy Center director on how Israel is likely to work with U.S. to block Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons under new PM Netanyahu.
VOA Persian editor on Iranians turning 40th day memorials for youths killed by security forces into celebrations of life. Former World Bank adviser on origins of Iranian women’s struggle for rights. German Institute for Intl. and Security Affairs analyst on prospects of Iran and Saudi Arabia restarting dialogue despite tensions.
VOA Persian anchor on Iran’s detained activists whose peaceful acts of defiance under pressure inspire protesters. Activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam Mackay on how Iranian diaspora campaigned for UN to expel Iran from women’s rights body. Iran Human Rights director on status of Iran’s morality police after confusion over whether they disbanded.
VOA Persian digital manager on social media videos showing anger in Iran after execution of second protester. Guardian reporters reveal the making of exclusive story about Iran’s forces firing at female protesters’ faces, genitals. UANI policy director explains how EU’s Iran sanctions lag behind U.S.
A VOA Persian producer on Iran's protesters' efforts to stage a strike. Ex-U.S. official on Iran’s capability of targeting opponents abroad. Israel’s NGO Monitor on its call for permanent UN human rights fact-finding on Iran. Ex-U.S. security official on Biden's response to Iran’s nuclear advances.
VOA Persian journalist on why some in Iran cheered their team’s World Cup loss to U.S. Baha’i UN delegate on Human Rights Council approval of Iran fact-finding mission. Analyst Henry Rome on U.S. strategy toward Iran’s nuclear advances. VOA Kurdish journalist on Iran attacking Iranian Kurds in Iraq.
VOA’s Ali Emadi on differing reactions of Iranians inside Doha stadium to Iran’s World Cup loss to England. RFE/RL’s Golnaz Esfandiari profiles Iranian state TV staff facing new U.S. sanctions. Arms control researcher David Albright on how Iran procured Western parts for drones supplied to Russia.
Iran hands first death sentence to a protester but mass executions seen as unlikely. Amnesty International calls for stronger response to Iran’s killings of minority Baluchis. Committee to Protect Journalists advocates for jailed Iranian reporters. Iraqi PM tries to balance ties with Iran and U.S.
A protest song becomes a manifesto for young Iranians. Israel’s incoming prime minister faces dilemma in responding to Iran’s drone supplies for Russia. U.S. and rights activists push to remove Iran from UN women’s rights body. Western broadcasters seek to counter Iran’s jamming of their programs.
Iran turns to the courts to deter nationwide protests now in their 7th week. Activists call for a U.N. investigative body to hold Iran accountable for rights abuses. Iranians react skeptically to Islamic State role in Shiraz attack. Siamak Namazi’s lawyer updates on efforts to secure his release.
Iran’s university students lead a 6th week of nationwide protests against Islamist rule. A media rights activist group says a disturbing number of female journalists have been arrested in Iran’s crackdown. Israel faces a dilemma in responding to Iran’s alleged supply of attack drones to Russia.
Taken into police custody for violating morality laws, Mahsa Amini became the spark of a movement that has taken hold of Iran. What makes the current protests in Iran and elsewhere different from than ones that came before?