Destruction and disorder with Dina Esfandiary

The Islamic revolution that swept Iran in 1979 changed not only that state but also the region, and the world. The current war in and Iran can still be understood as a direct outcome of that event.The humiliation of the US in 1979 made it implacably opposed to Iran. The alignment of most of the Gulf states with the US and their increasing ties with Israel also created a complex balance. On the other hand, Iran's spread of influence through its "Shia Crescent" in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, with offshoots in Yemen and Gaza, made it a formidable and threatening presence.It is upon this background that the US-Israeli strikes commenced on February 28, engulfing the whole region in destruction and disorder.Dina Esfandiary, Middle East lead at Bloomberg Economics, is an excellent guide to this complex reality. With clarity and depths of knowledge, this is the conversation we all need now.This episode was recorded on 5 March 2026ChaptersIran's response and regional implicationsHistorical context of Gulf-Iran rivalryIran's military capabilities and regional concernsWhat motived the US to strike Iran?The plight of the Iranian peopleMentions[Dina’s articles - Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AV0Rw29Q1B0/dina-esfandiary](https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AV0Rw29Q1B0/dina-esfandiary)FollowDina Esfandiary LinkedIn & X/TwitterIlana Bet-ElInstagram @women_leaders_podcastListen this episode on our YouTube channelOur partner European Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn Facebook websiteCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJTContribute to the conversation with a comment & a 5-⭐️Reach us on our Instagram and follow for updates @women_leaders_podcastWatch now our episode on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.