The Trouble With Tehran

Iran is doing good things...?

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In keeping with the Remnant’s long tradition of providing edifying counter-programming, Jonah’s joined today by Ken Pollack—AEI senior fellow and expert on the Middle East—to discuss the latest on Iran and American policy toward the region. “Since the 1979 revolution,” Dr. Pollack writes in his latest piece for Foreign Policy, “Iran’s leadership has single-mindedly attempted to dominate the Middle East and drive the United States and Israel out.” But now, Tehran is shifting its approach, and Iranian grand strategy is placing a new emphasis on diplomacy. What does that mean for the United States? How will it affect other relationships between nations? And does Jonah’s general grouchiness stem from his political realism?

Show Notes:

– Dr. Pollack’s page at AEI

– Dr. Pollack: “Iran’s Grand Strategy Has Fundamentally Shifted”

– The Remnant with Frederick Kagan

– The Remnant with Daniel Hannan

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Comments (12)
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  1. Becpt78

    Very informative! Thank you!

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    Mitch S.

    Very interesting and informative.

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    Kimbaukusfitzgibbon

    Thank you! A very helpful informative podcast.

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  4. Shbier

    Really good podcast. I thought Pollack was engaging and thoughtful. He supported his views and didn’t act as if his opinions were written on tablets.

    Honestly, I stopped listening to the previous day because it was stuff I heard before but delivered with a degree of pomposity by someone who acted as if his British accent gave him added gravitas. Maybe it got better but didn’t stay to see.

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  5. Phillyex1

    He lost me at Netanyahu bad Biden good.

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  6. Kevin English

    Please, please somebody give Jonah the correct pronunciation of the "Xi" part of Xi Jinping. Say "She" for Xi.

    Enjoyed this episode. The thing about the rhetoric behind the "Great Satan" was classic Jonah.

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  7. John Matthew IV

    Love the counterprogramming this week. If I want to read about Trump and indictments there are an infinitie number of places to turn to. Only The Remnant would have such throughtful convesations as you have featured.

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  8. Philebus

    I recall a statement from Mike Pompeo in which he stated that: if you disagreed with the west bank settlements that you were an antisemite (not in quotes as it's solely my recollection). My thought at the time was: that could be 48% of Israeli's population. I don't know. There is much said and a lot of bluster over Israel. I kinda get it, and I kinda don't. In some regards, the hard right (in Israel) makes things more difficult for the nation - but often, a hard line is required - you're living in a tough place. I'm not one to pass judgement.

    Best wishes regardless. A good interview, and an enriched perspective as usual. Thank you.

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  9. Kmsinatra

    I love Ken Pollack! After finishing up my senior thesis which focused heavily on democracy and Islam I picked up Mr. Pollack's "The Persian Puzzle" and loved it. It was so informative and really contributed to my enduring interest in Iran. I wrote him (handwritten!) a card telling him so and not only did he write me back, but he sent me a signed copy of his previous book, "The Threatening Storm." Really happy to listen to this discussion. Thanks @Jonah!

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    Pastorfbt

    This is great stuff and like drinking from a firehose.
    His comment about the Russian diplomats who could keep to their BS talking points with a straight face made me think of Lavrov (at least until he's recently shown his true colors).

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