US To Go Max On Iran Sanctions (S01E134)

Friday, August 21, 2026, ParisThe US has begun to unveil the next phase in its campaign agaisnt Iran, and it looks a bit like previous attempts to pressure the country. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the aim is to use the combination of sanctions, international pressure on third countries, and a naval blockade to “collapse” Iran. In the latest edition of badlands, I discuss the sanctions and what “regime collapse” could mean. Also in the episode, a replay of an April interview with Hossein Rassam, the former adviser to the UK Embassy in Iran about the current crisis and how the Iranian government may evolve as a result of the war.Finally, I discuss what the world should do about an increasingy reckless and belligerent US and Israel and a range of topics—in a pair of interviews with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe