EPISODE · Feb 13, 2026 · 1H 32M
'A plea for help': why are Iranian people watching the skies?| Eye for Iran | EP 90
from Eye For Iran
A high stakes week in Washington raises one question: are we watching “good cop bad cop” diplomacy that is really a prelude to military strikes on the Islamic Republic? After President Donald Trump meets Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US military deployments intensify, Dr. Eric Mandel, founder and director of MEPIN (Middle East Political and Information Network), and Ambassador John Craig, a former American diplomat, unpack the pressure campaign on Tehran, the tight circle around Trump and why one guest calls this moment a prequel to military action.Then the human reality behind the geopolitics. Mina, speaking from Germany with her identity protected, shares what she is hearing from inside Iran after the January 8 and 9 killings, including the story of slain protester Hamid Reza Najari and two imprisoned brothers. She describes a level of desperation many outside Iran struggle to grasp: people monitor air traffic every night hoping intervention is coming because they feel they have no way left to fight a brutal state with empty hands.Finally, former UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sir John Jenkins explains the Persian Gulf states’ private calculations. Many would like Iran to change but fear the consequences of sudden collapse, regional spillover and unpredictable escalation. What are Iran’s neighbors quietly preparing for and how might their interests shape Washington’s next move?Contents for this video:00:00:00 Opening montage: Iran’s uprising, deaths, desperate pleas00:00:59 The geopolitics shaping what comes next, Iran’s Arab neighbors, Sir John Jenkins00:02:19 Interview begins, how Gulf states are reading Tehran after the massacre00:05:49 The Gulf’s priority: avoiding open-ended conflict, Vision 2030 anxiety00:09:22 Transitional government talk, referendum idea, Iran as a potential economic giant00:13:18 Regional map: Israel, UAE, Jordan, Turkey, post-Oct 7 alignments00:18:44 A new order or a new disorder, keeping Iran weak vs fearing collapse00:19:36 Who sways Trump, personalized White House, Netanyahu factor, military options00:23:36 Soleimani and “performative” retaliation, why escalation fears may be overblown00:25:55 Turkey, Syria, Kurds, and why Ankara fears a powerful Iran00:36:18 Europe’s role, IRGC networks, snapback, money flows, hostile state activity00:39:57 Strait of Hormuz, can Iran really close it, China’s interests, mining scenario00:42:41 Jenkins final thoughts, hope for peaceful regime change00:43:05 Voices from inside Iran: Mina’s testimony, slain protester and imprisoned brothers00:43:54 Hamid Reza Najari killed, family misled, body returned after 20 days00:47:09 Why they protested: a future without the Islamic Republic, chants and hope00:48:28 Damun and Yashar arrested, fear of silence, families under pressure00:52:17 The mood inside Iran: “last battle,” nationwide despair, duty to amplify00:54:11 Munich protests and hope, people inside Iran tracking turnout and weather00:57:24 Why some plead for intervention, “watching air traffic,” the desperation point00:59:50 The victims’ lives, “normal life” stolen, why none will be the same00:01:01:33 Mina’s final message: use freedom outside Iran, stay loud, stay united00:01:02:47 Trump-Netanyahu meeting: what was decided and what it means for Iran00:01:03:27 Dr Eric Mandel, inner debates in Trump world, nuclear vs missiles vs proxies00:01:08:08 Neglecting Iran’s people, why “nuclear-only” deals keep failing00:01:11:17 Ambassador John Craig: carrier moves, “prequel” to military action00:01:16:09 What targets could look like, Israel’s role, “accept terms or else”00:01:17:27 Talks about talks, stalling, and why diplomacy may be a setup for force00:01:24:05 Who’s in the tight circle, Witkoff, Kushner, Vance, Barrack, Rubio question00:01:27:07 Regional pressure on Washington, Gulf states, stability argument vs regime fall00:01:30:14 Final messages to Trump, legacy, midterms, “be unconventional”00:01:32:20 End of episode#iran #freeiran #netanyahu #trump #iranprotests #iranrevolution #rezapahlavi #nucleardeal #usa #israel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
A high stakes week in Washington raises one question: are we watching “good cop bad cop” diplomacy that is really a prelude to military strikes on the Islamic Republic? After President Donald Trump meets Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US military deployments intensify, Dr. Eric Mandel, founder and director of MEPIN (Middle East Political and Information Network), and Ambassador John Craig, a former American diplomat, unpack the pressure campaign on Tehran, the tight circle around Trump and why one guest calls this moment a prequel to military action.Then the human reality behind the geopolitics. Mina, speaking from Germany with her identity protected, shares what she is hearing from inside Iran after the January 8 and 9 killings, including the story of slain protester Hamid Reza Najari and two imprisoned brothers. She describes a level of desperation many outside Iran struggle to grasp: people monitor air traffic every night hoping intervention is coming because they feel they have no way left to fight a brutal state with empty hands.Finally, former UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sir John Jenkins explains the Persian Gulf states’ private calculations. Many would like Iran to change but fear the consequences of sudden collapse, regional spillover and unpredictable escalation. What are Iran’s neighbors quietly preparing for and how might their interests shape Washington’s next move?Contents for this video:00:00:00 Opening montage: Iran’s uprising, deaths, desperate pleas00:00:59 The geopolitics shaping what comes next, Iran’s Arab neighbors, Sir John Jenkins00:02:19 Interview begins, how Gulf states are reading Tehran after the massacre00:05:49 The Gulf’s priority: avoiding open-ended conflict, Vision 2030 anxiety00:09:22 Transitional government talk, referendum idea, Iran as a potential economic giant00:13:18 Regional map: Israel, UAE, Jordan, Turkey, post-Oct 7 alignments00:18:44 A new order or a new disorder, keeping Iran weak vs fearing collapse00:19:36 Who sways Trump, personalized White House, Netanyahu factor, military options00:23:36 Soleimani and “performative” retaliation, why escalation fears may be overblown00:25:55 Turkey, Syria, Kurds, and why Ankara fears a powerful Iran00:36:18 Europe’s role, IRGC networks, snapback, money flows, hostile state activity00:39:57 Strait of Hormuz, can Iran really close it, China’s interests, mining scenario00:42:41 Jenkins final thoughts, hope for peaceful regime change00:43:05 Voices from inside Iran: Mina’s testimony, slain protester and imprisoned brothers00:43:54 Hamid Reza Najari killed, family misled, body returned after 20 days00:47:09 Why they protested: a future without the Islamic Republic, chants and hope00:48:28 Damun and Yashar arrested, fear of silence, families under pressure00:52:17 The mood inside Iran: “last battle,” nationwide despair, duty to amplify00:54:11 Munich protests and hope, people inside Iran tracking turnout and weather00:57:24 Why some plead for intervention, “watching air traffic,” the desperation point00:59:50 The victims’ lives, “normal life” stolen, why none will be the same00:01:01:33 Mina’s final message: use freedom outside Iran, stay loud, stay united00:01:02:47 Trump-Netanyahu meeting: what was decided and what it means for Iran00:01:03:27 Dr Eric Mandel, inner debates in Trump world, nuclear vs missiles vs proxies00:01:08:08 Neglecting Iran’s people, why “nuclear-only” deals keep failing00:01:11:17 Ambassador John Craig: carrier moves, “prequel” to military action00:01:16:09 What targets could look like, Israel’s role, “accept terms or else”00:01:17:27 Talks about talks, stalling, and why diplomacy may be a setup for force00:01:24:05 Who’s in the tight circle, Witkoff, Kushner, Vance, Barrack, Rubio question00:01:27:07 Regional pressure on Washington, Gulf states, stability argument vs regime fall00:01:30:14 Final messages to Trump, legacy, midterms, “be unconventional”00:01:32:20 End of episode#iran #freeiran #netanyahu #trump #iranprotests #iranrevolution #rezapahlavi #nucleardeal #usa #israel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'A plea for help': why are Iranian people watching the skies?| Eye for Iran | EP 90
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