Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (File)
Israel Expands War on Iran to Lebanon Amid Tehran’s Retaliation
Netanyahu and Trump’s War for Regime Change in Iran
I spoke with Irish and Indian outlets on Sunday about the expansion of the Israel-US war on Iran following the killing of the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader.
I evaluate the scale of the Israel-US attempt to “decapitate” the Iranian regime, with other senior officials slain, and the objectives of both the Netanyahu Government and the Trump Administration.
I discuss Iran’s retaliation. But I focus more on the regime’s attempts to maintain itself after the demise of Ayatollah Khamenei.
Who could be the successors? What is the state of the Iranian opposition? Is there a possible transition to avoid breakdown and civil war, as happened in Iraq after the 2003 US invasion?
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I discuss whether the regime will capitulate to the Trump Administration’s demands over Iran’s nuclear programme.
But foreseeing that the regime will not surrender and Israel will not halt its assault unless the Trump camp withdraws support, I assess that the world has limited leverage for its calls for “de-escalation”.
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I joined the Brendan O’Connor Show on Sunday morning to discuss the situation inside Iran, both for the regime and for Iranians.
I consider the succession to the Supreme Leader and the regime’s response to the Israel-US strikes, and I explain why the attacks are unlikely to help the Iranian opposition.
Listen from 7:49-12:09 and 21:04-23:22
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I updated NewsTalk Weekend about the status of the Israel-US strikes and Iran’s retaliation.
I explain why, despite Israel’s killing of the Supreme Leader, they have not yet “decapitated” the regime.
And I consider if the Trump camp may be willing to accept “regime accommodation”, if Iran’s leaders agree to give up their nuclear program entirely and limit their ballistic missiles.
Listen from 8:21: