Is the Regime Doomed? Iran on the Eve of War

Against the backdrop of one of the largest US military deployments to the Middle East since 2003, MEI Senior Fellow Alex Vatanka joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to assess the situation inside Iran on the eve of potential war. Weeks after the Islamic Republic's brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters and as negotiations with the US fail to find common ground, Donald Trump is reportedly weighing options for military action against Iran. Vatanka breaks down the regime's strategic calculus, the current dynamics of Iran's opposition movement, and the likely domestic political consequences of a military strike.   For more information, see Alex's co-authored article with Sanam Vakil on Iran's divided opposition here and his analysis of the regime's strategic calculus here.   Recorded on February 24, 2026.