badlands podcast by borzou daragahi

Friday, June 26, 2026, Istanbul On Thursday, Iran attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, violating a provision of the memorandum of understanding it signed with Iran. Meanwhile, Israel continued its attacks on Lebanon, killing more civilians, also in violation of the memorandum which requires the US to leash Benjamin Netanyahu.So many things could go wrong in the ongoing talks with Iran, and so many players have an interest in making sure it’s derailed. In today’s edition of the badlands podcast, I speak with the Crisis Group’s Ali Vaez about the spoilers, the many actors that could undermine the the agreement between the US and Iran and prompt a return to war. They include hardliners in or close to government in Tehran, Washington, and Israel, as well as the monarchist activists Ali Vaez is one of the sharpest and most well-informed observers of the Iran crisis, serving as an interlocutor as well as an analyst. Please excuse the poor audio quality of the podcast today, which is sometimes tough to hear because of technical difficulties. The video version is captioned. badlands is a reader-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

Thursday, June 25, 2026, Istanbul Even as Marco Rubio attempts to keep America’s Gulf clients in line, some of them are already finding their own way. In today’s podcast I discuss the ongoing diplomatic intrigues involving the US, Gulf countries, and an emerging power bloc consisting of regional powers determined to avoid being dragged into another war. This bloc—I argue—seems at the very least ambivalent about the US role in the region and is hostile to Israel’s expansionist agenda. I also discuss the Gulf and its role in the conflict in an interview with France 24. Please watch or listen, share and subscribe. mo’ paid subscribers means mo’ resources, mo’ interviews, and mo’ content. please consider becoming a 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

Tuesday, June 16, 2026, IstanbulA major new report by the Crisis Group details how the Israel has increasingly pushed the once-thriving economy of the West Bank to the brink of disaster. The increasing pauperization of Palestinian residents has major impacts for the viability of communities in what would be the bulk of any future Palestinian state. says Joost Hiltermann, author of the report, in an interview with badlands.“If you listen to people like Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, the two right-wing ministers, they make very clear that they want the population out unless they utterly submit to Israeli diktat,” he tells me. “Anybody who resists Israeli governance or orders in the future would be marked for deportation.”In addition, I describe and analyze a leaked version of the 14-point memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran that is to be signed on Friday, and discuss the details and implications in an interview with India’s NewsX World. please consider becoming a paid subscriber, or share badlands with a friend who might be interested in it. 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

Wednesday, June 24, 2026, IstanbulDonald Trump keeps making claims about Iran’s agreement to compromise on its nuclear program that Iran keeps swatting down. To make matters worse, even war hawks and neocons in Washington keep noting that he has actually achieved little in negotiations.Making matters even worse is the possibility that Iran has abandoned any pretense of adhering to its nuclear obligations and already launched its own Manhattan Project to fast-track a nuclear weapon.In today’s podcast, I break down the nuclear issue and assess both the politics and the science behind the headlines.I also speak to India’s NewsX World about the nuclear issue.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.com(Photo: AI-generated image posted online to intimidate Trita Parsi).) Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Istanbul Trita Parsi has been among the most measured and well-informed experts on Iran and the Middle East in the public eye. Yet for years, he’s been targeted by nefarious and well-funded forces seeking to paint him as an asset of the Islamic Republic, where he would be arrested on national security charges. In today’s powerful and jam-packed edition of the badlands podcast, Trita, author of the excellent book Treacherous Alliance, joins me for an extraordinary and revealing interview. He discusses the attempt by Israeli operative Bari Weiss to spark a deportation drive against him, his confrontations with members of the Iranian-American community, and his continued access to the halls of power despite attempts to silence him.Also on today’s episode, I discuss the latest, including:* Positive signs coming from Washington and Tehran* Lindsay Graham’s attempts to gin up another round of war* The continued clashes in Lebanon, and how they could undermine the whole dealI also answer questions about the state of Donald Trump’s mental health, the ongoing discussions between the US and Iran, the impact of the oil sanctions waivers, and the growing tension in the US over support for Israel in an interview with India’s NewsX World host Asuma Kataoka.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Monday, June 22, 2026, Istanbul Iran and the US talks get underway in Switzerland, but almost immediately fall apart. The Iranian delegation stood up JD Vance just as he was waiting for his photo op! In today’s podcast I discuss why I believe the talks will continue in fits and starts over the coming weeks despite the initial hiccups. Plus, comedian Tim Dillon hilariously describes Iran as a poorly behaving teenaged girl who gets the upper hand over her boomer mom. I also join Express 24/7’s Fahd Hassan in a discussion about the role the Lebanon conflict will play in the talks, and whether the diplomats involved can overcome the differing positions.And, in an interview with India’s NewxX World, I discuss the fragmentation of the Gulf States as a result of the war, and whether the US can overcome Israel’s spoiler role. Please listen or watch, share, and subscribe!hey, be cool and consider becoming a paid subscriber to support my work and allow me to do even more for you. if i get enough paid subscribers i’ll be to provide more commentary and reporting and improve production quality. 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

Friday, June 12, 2026, IstanbulIt’s not just Iran. The US is kicking up chaos in a wide swath of the world, including in Latin America, where it has toppled the government in Venezuela, besieged the nation of Cuba, meddled in Columbian elections, and harassed the president of Mexico. Foreign policy analyst Dan DePetris, of Defense Priorities, joins me in a discussion as to whether those advocates of restraint in Washington are winning or losing ground in an effort to reign back a US seemingly hellbent on maintaining the trappings of empire. DePetris and I discuss events in Iran, as well as Latin America, which is his focus. Please listen or watch, share, comment, and subscribe. badlands is a reader-supported podcast and newsleter. To receive new posts 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

Thursday, June 18, 2026, IstanbulNext week we could be in a war again, with Donald Trump bombing the s**t out of Iran and Iran destroying the Gulf’s energy infrastructure.But this week, we are drinking neocon tears, as warmongers crash out over the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the US and upcoming negotiations to hammer out a durable deal.In today’s podcast, I savor some of the meltdowns and turnabouts, specifically from famed neocon John Podhoretz, who once said Trump could say any antisemitic slur he wanted so long as he bombed Iran.I also go to into detail about the Iran memorandum and its implications in an interview with NewsX World.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new content 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

Wednesday, June 10, 2026, IstanbulThe 2026 World Cup gets underway this week in North America and already the pre-tournament shenanigans threaten to upstate the actual game-play.The US, under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, appear to have made it their mission to harass the teams, staff, and fans of countries they don’t like. That includes Iraq and Somalia, whose celebrated referee was denied entry into the country.With Iran, the situation is super awkward, to say the least. This World Cup appears to the first in which a host country of the games is technically at war with one of the countries fielding a team.Iran’s beloved Team Melli has already been stiffed on tickets for fans, and opted to relocate its base to Mexico after the US delayed issuing the team visas. Members of Iran Team Melli’s support staff has also been denied visas.In today’s special World Cup edition of badlands, I speak with Sweden-based sports journalist and pundit Nima Tavallaey Roodsari about the tournament and the irregularities that have been imposed by the US on Iran’s team.I also gave a brief interview to Austrian’s ORF FM4 radio about the fighting that took place between Israel and Iran during the weekend. You can listen to it here.become a paid subscriber to badlands and help me improve its quality, content, and frequency. 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

Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Istanbul Tiny Albania has upended Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s multi-billionaire scheme to use Gulf money to buy an island and an environmentally sensitive stretch of mainland for resort projects. For now it looks like EU-empowered anticorruption prosecutors, emboldened by continued mass protests against the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, have put the projects on ice. In today’s podcast, I speak with Albania-based investigative journalist Mitch Prothero, who has been covering the protests and the scandal surrounding the project for The Nation and other publications.“It’s got a lot to do with just the general lack of trust with the government, corruption, just rampant development all over the country,” said Prothero, who has visited the rugged, heavily mined island where Ivanka and Jared supposedly want to build a luxury retreat for their fellow Epstein class members. “People, I think, really started to freak out over this specific deal. And then because of its international connotations involving like Trump’s son-in-law, Saudi-backed investment-funds, shell companies that make it nearly impossible to find the investors., there’s been sort of a nexus of interest in the story,” he added. “It’s really allowed it to take off.“I think the Albanians are pretty shocked to find themselves on CNN, though,” he said. “They didn’t see this one coming. It’s really like an environmental dispute over a wetlands and regulatory permitting.”Also on today’s podcast, I speak about the aftermath of the weekend round of escalation between Israel and the US on France 24’s flagship show The Debate. You can also watch the whole program.Finally check out my interview last night with Edgar Mannheimer on the Kalam podcastbadlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Monday, June 15, 2026 IstanbulA memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran has been agreed to, with a signing ceremony in Geneva expected on Friday. A lot could happen in the next few days, to derail or delay the finalization of the deal, supposedly extending the ongoing “truce” by 60 days while opening up the Persian Gulf to commercial traffic. More could happen in the coming two months. But regardless, the Trump administration appears to have come to terms with the very discomfiting reality that it has lost the war. Not only have none of the main aims of the war been achieved, even the negotiations center on matters that favor Iran rather than the nuclear program, ballistic missiles, proxy forces, and human rights matters that were on the table the day before the conflict began. Just look at the reaction in Israel to see how badly the war has gone for the US and its ally. On today’s podcast I discuss all of these matters and more, as well as the Handala collective’s claimed hack of FBI surveillance drones in an interview with India’s NewsX World.Please listen, watch, enjoy, comment, share, and subscribe!please consider becoming a paid subscriber to give me the ability to spend more of my time reporting on and bolstering the podcast. 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

Thursday, June 11, 2026, IstanbulIf you look at social media you might be forgiven for being confused. One day Donald Trump says the US is within days of a durable peace deal with Iran. The next moment he’s threatening to bomb the country. Then he declares the US controls the Strait of Hormuz. Then he demands that Iran open it up to traffic.He then threatens to “bomb the s**t” of Iran. And then hours later, starts threatening that he’s about to take over Iran’s Khark island.But then suddenly, at around 1:30 pm Eastern time, he says that there’s a deal!In today’s episode of badlands, I discuss Trump’s gyrations and the week warfare that preceded it in a pair of interviews with India’s NewsX World.I am joined for a brief interview with Daniel DePetris of Defense Priorities, a Washington think tank.Plus, I discuss the growing tensions between Turkey and Israel.if you like the content please consider subscribing or becoming a paid subscriber. if i get enough subscribers i will be able to seriously upgrade production values, and provide more podcasts as well as in-depth articles. 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

Monday, June 8, 2026, IstanbulI’ve warned for weeks that neither side in the conflict is quite tired of war yet, and that only the fear of plunging the world into a global depression has kept the brakes on escalation in the Middle East.Over the weekend we got a lesson on just how easily the war may flare up again, especially when you have Israel, Iran, and the US all poking and prodding each other in attempts to test red lines and bolster negotiation positions. In today’s podcast I discuss the overlapping layers of diplomacy, domestic politics, and the logic of warfare ahead of latest trading of bombs between Iran and Israel over Lebanon, as well as Yemen’s intervention on behalf of Hezbollah. Watch or listen to several interviews with India’s NewsX World in which I describe the steady escalation that led to the outbreak of open warfare on Sunday and heading into Monday morning.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Friday, June 5, 2026, IstanbulUS lawmakers finally stood up to the Trump administration this week, voting in a surprise move to call on President Donald Trump to halt the war in Iran or seek Congressional approval.Huge segments of official Washington are finally catching up with the overwhelming American public consensus that the war is a disastrous mistake. But why did it take so much and so long to overcome?In today’s podcast, Washington-based scholar Sina Toossi and I discuss the hawkish Beltway consensus that led to a war that is badly damaging the world economy.Other topics in today’s edition:* The latest updates on Iran’s nuclear program* The rift between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Lebanon* Iran’s remaining military capabilities* Iran’s increasing abuse of dissidents and use of the death penalty* What to expect ahead Iran’s arrival to North America for the World Cup* And Sina’s picks on some of the best restaurants in WashingtonPlease watch, listen, share, and subscribe!badlands is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Thursday, June 4, 2026, Istanbul Tiny Albania turned itself into a Balkan United Arab Emirates by cozying up to Israel and the administration of Donald Trump. It joined the Board of Peace, the sham organization used to deflect attention from the ongoing Israeli subjugation of Palestinians in Gaza.But it all blew up this week over plans to hand over precious coastal properties and an island to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump for a $4 billion resort scheme funded with ill-gotten cash from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. On today’s podcast, I detail how growing public unease over Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s enthusiastic embrace of Israel blew up in his face this week, forcing him to freeze the resort project. Plus, I discuss the ongoing low-level war between Iran and the US and, in an interview with India’s NewsX World, the complications that could arise when Team Iran arrives in the US for the World Cup this summer. Please listen or watch, share, comment, and subscribe. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Tuesday, June 2, 2026, IstanbulAxios reports on a testy exchange between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s offensive in Lebanon. Earlier on Monday, Iran announced that it was walking away from negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and potentially rolling back its nuclear program because of Israel’s continued military actions in Lebanon, which now amount to an occupation of the the country’s south. That wasn’t the deal, Iran declared, noting that ceasefire in Lebanon was part of the April settlement that ended the most ferocious phase of warfare between the US and Iran. Trump said he didn’t care. Apparently he did care. According to Axios’ explosive report, Trump was fuming at Netanyahu, going all Joe Pesce on him. “You’re f*****g crazy,” Axios reported that Trump told Netanyahu. “You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”Lebanon has become a key stumbling back in ending a conflict that continues to threaten the world economy. On the latest edition of badlands, I discuss the deep ties between Iran and Lebanon that go beyond Hezbollah and its role as a proxy force for Tehran. In interviews with India’s NewsX World and Azerbaijan’s Anewz, I also discuss the latest news and diplomatic maneuvering, and the Strait of Hormuz and whether Iran is holding it hostage. In short, hell yeah it’s holding the Strait hostage, and it’s getting away with it because of US missteps. A quick programming note. badlands was ranked 29 in Substack’s list of rising newsletters! Thanks to everyone for their support. Please watch. listen, share, and subscribe.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comMonday, June 1, 2026, IstanbulThe same people who goaded Donald Trump into launching a war of choice against Iran that would be over in a few days or weeks are now signaling that the US president should just stay the course for another two-and-a-half years!This comes as the US and Iran again exchanged fire overnight Sunday to Monday. The US hit Iranian missile bases along southwestern Iran’s coast. Iran responded with missile strikes on US positions in Kuwait. No casualties were reported by either side.On today’s edition of badlands, I discuss delusions and propaganda disguised as policy with Brett Erickson, a dynamic analyst at the risk advisory firm Obsidian whose razor-sharp takes on the Iran conflict stand out. As both negotiations and low-level warfare continue, the world economy, is in deep trouble, he warns.“The problem is basically we’re in energy war right now,” he tells me. “And unfortunately Iran can withstand this much longer than the global economy can.”Erickson notes that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is costing the world 12.8 million barrels of oil per day. “We’re above 1.1 billion barrels lost in total now,” he says. “And it’s going to take time to conduct mine-clearing operations. It’s going to take time to negotiate this memorandum of understanding still. We then need to get tankers out of the Gulf and get them back into the Gulf. And it’s just a long timeline that could extend quite significantly.”Also on today’s show, I discuss the latest in Iran with updates on the diplomatic struggle to end the conflict in a pair of interviews with India’s NewsX World. Plus, why Israel has stepped up its war efforts in Lebanon. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comFriday, May 29, 2026, IstanbulNot enough has been said about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s systematic dismantling of Turkey’s opposition movement and the craven acquiescence of the United States and the European Union to his machinations. Today’s podcast features an interview with Turkish scholar and fellow Substacker Orhan Şener Deliormanlı. He’s a UK-educated political commentator and media researcher now continuing his doctoral studies at Istanbul’s prestigious Galatasaray University. He specializes in youth movements and democracy in Turkey.But that’s not all today. In addition to the fascinating discussion about the decline of Turkey’s democracy, we have updates on the latest news from Iran, Gaza, and the West Bank, where the EU has sanctioned the most extremist settlers. Please listen or watch, comment, share, and subscribe. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Thursday, May 28, 2026, IstanbulIt was one of the nastiest and most uncalled for moments in Donald Trump’s unhinged second term. In the middle of a press briefing at a cabinet Trump threatened to “blow up” Oman if it didn’t do the Americans’ bidding on the Strait of Hormuz. It was a deranged outburst that is part of a pattern of Trump attacking the countries attempting to find a diplomatic solution to the Iran war. It also shows the childish way that Trump sees war. In reality might not only does not make right, it sometimes leads to defeats. Just because the US and Israel blew up more stuff than Iran in the recent armed conflict doesn’t make them the winners. It actually made them the losers, because it ended up strengthening the regime and expanding Iran’s influence. I discuss all this in today’s podcast, as well as bring you up to date on the news in an excellent interview with anchor Guy Shone of Azerbaijan’s Anewz. badlands is a reader-supported outlet. To receive new posts 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comIn today’s edition of badlands, I speak with journalist Leila Gharagozlou, a CNN correspondent who has amassed a massive following on her TikTok account with astute, pithy takes and takedowns on Iran and geopolitics. She often gives her talks while chilling on her couch in Dubai in her favorite bathrobe. In a wide-ranging discussion we talk about everything from the role of the Revolutionary Guard in Iran to best Persian restaurant in Dubai. “I found that people who generally should understand the region a little bit better seem to constantly be misinterpreting and misunderstanding the Iranians and their point of view and how Iran works inside,” she says. “And I don’t know where that comes from. I can only assume that it is maybe this kind of wishful thinking—almost delusion—of what we want to happen rather than what is actually happening on the ground and how Iran fundamentally functions.”Please listen or watch, comment, share, and subscribe.

Tuesday, May 26, 2026, IstanbulIranians are warning of a wider war following US airstrikes on the country late Monday or early Tuesday. On the latest edition of badlands, I discuss how little the latest attack makes sense.Also on today’s jam-packed podcast:* Why Iran might got internet restored* Whether Israel might face more international pressure* Whether the United Arab Emirates may be facing the same kind of isolation it once imposed on Qatar* How Turkey’s democracy is failingA great talk last night on France 24 with Francois Picard included debate about how Iran, Israel, the Gulf, and the US are trying to shape the ongoing crisis.The entire discussion can be viewed below, but some choice excerpts are included in my latest podcast.In a deep dive with Pakistan Express 24/7’s Fahd Hassan, I discuss the latest developments across the region, including in Iran, Israel, and the Gulf, including the role of China and Pakistan in the negotiations.Also in today’s editions, more talk about Iran, as well as Israel and Turkey, on India’s NewsX World with host Ellie Richardson.Please listen, watch, and subscribe!badlands is a reader-supported podcast. To receive new posts 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

News of a possible deal between Iran and the US sent heads exploding among neocons and warmongers. Truth be told it was a delight to be behold.In today’s special edition of the podcast, I discuss the deal and how it could still fall apart.Plus, in an interview with India’s NewsX World, I speak about Turkey’s efforts to destroy President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main opposition party and shut down an important university.Also, what a US troop deployment in Poland could mean.To receive all new posts 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

Friday, May 22, 2026, IstanbulOn Wednesday, Donald Trump took a call from Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.On Thursday, Turkey’s Erdogan-controlled judiciary removed the effective and charismatic leader of the opposition party from his post, and re-installed a flailing dullard.On today’s podcast, I discuss how time after time, Trump’s idiocy, arrogance, and naïveté allow him to be used by adversaries and supposed allies. Cuba and Iran are also examples of how people are using his incredible stupidity to their own advantage.As I also discuss during an update on India’s NewsX World, all Trump really cares about is looking good on television. He’s a blithering moron, a fact that can not be ignored. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comThursday, May 21, 2026, IstanbulUkraine stunned the world last weekend with a fresh, robust drone and missile strike on Russia’s capital. It wasn’t the first Ukrainian attack on Moscow, but it was most definitely the most robust, targeting Russian energy infrastructure in an attempt to decrease Russia’s ability to wage war. In an exceptional and insightful interview, Ukrainian analyst Anastasiya Shapochkina, of the Eastern Circles think tank in Paris, discusses the latest attack and how it is the result of an ongoing tech-driven with ever murkier rules of engagement and frontlines. “The front line, as we have understood it, has disappeared,” she tells badlands. “It’s gotten replaced with a kill zone of about 30 kilometers and anything that goes anywhere near there is directly targeted and annihilated. It’s an environment completely saturated with drone presence, which means it’s absolutely transparent. The technology which now dominates the battlefield it allows both sides to see at night to see based on the heating that a body can produce.”Please listen or watch, comment, subscribe, and share.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026, IstanbulAfter signaling that the US was again getting ready to resume its military operations against Iran, Trump again backed down.He said he was convinced to give diplomacy a chance for a few days, but the facts suggest he remains caught in a trap created by a combination of military and geographic reality and his own rhetoric.On today’s edition of badlands, I discuss how Trump’s tough talk strengthens Iranian hardliners and makes the deal he appears to want even harder to get. Trump, already threatened to annihilate Iran’s civilization, and Tehran refused to back down. More threats serve little purpose, except to empower the wrong people in Tehran. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comLast week Tehran-based tech entrepreneur Hamidreza Ahmadi stunned Iran watchers with an insightful and extraordinarily brave essay written from Iran about the real reasons behind Iranians’ misery in the leftist journal Jacobin.In the piece, the Queens College graduate and one-time New York resident stu recounts the double tragedy of the January protests in Iran. Not only were the protests brutally crushed, costing thousands of lives. But they were effectively hijacked by both the government and the opposition to obscure the underlying difficulties that prompted people to head into the streets:Over the span of two days, thousands lost their lives, and many more were injured. The details of the crackdown are grim and well documented elsewhere. Both the state and the Pahlavi camps had an interest in burying the economic angle. The protests were swiftly reframed as a civilizational clash: Islamic Republic versus monarchical restoration. Both sides gained from this framing because neither could offer a credible answer to the material grievances that had brought people into the streets. Neither had redistributive policies to propose. Neither wanted to talk about the VAT hike, the forex shock, or the rising price of food and rent. So they didn’t. The economic origin story was erased. And so January became about security and treason for one side and freedom and democracy for the other.In an exclusive interview, badlands’ first on-camera dicussion from Tehran, Ahmadi discusses the impact of Iran’s economic troubles, how sanctions relief helped launch a whole generation of entrepreneurial verve, and how the re-imposition of sanctions crushed that spirit.He also discusses the day-to-day troubles in Iran now, how his own small business is going, and whether people fear a return to full-scale warfare.We also get a live view of the snow-capped mountaintops of northern Tehran.Please listen or watch, subscribe and share.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Donald Trump again threatened war this weekend, and there are reasons to believe he means this time.But does he know what he’s in for? In today’s podcast, I discuss the inventive ways that Iran has fended off the US attacks and pressure, a creativity born of both new weapons of warfare and Iran’s unique geography.Lots of fun stuff in the latest edition, including AI-generated depictions of battles and speculation over who could have been behind a recent attack on the United Arab Emirates sole nuclear power plant. Plus a recent interview with me and professor Ibrahim Al-Marashi about the changing nature of warfare on South Era Networks.Milestone: Thanks to your support, badlands just reached 1,000 subscribers. That’s a growth rate of 1,000% over the last 180 days!Please keep sharing and consider upgrading to a paid subscription. Under badlands’m sharing program, if you convince several others to sign up you’ll receive a complimentary subscription, giving you access to full articles, archives, and podcasts behind the paywall.Thanks for reading badlands! This post is public so feel free to share it. 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

It was something out of a 1960s brat-pack comedy.Israel got sick of being treated like the side piece and announced to the world that it had a thing going with the United Arab Emirates, publicly announcing that Benjamin Netanyahu had visited the UAE and met with the leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. An Israeli channel even reported that MbZ picked up Bibi from airport, personally driving to a secret meeting.The UAE did what any philandering scoundrel might do. It denied, denied, denied to the rest of the Arab world that it had met with the toxic Netanyahu.Of course, no one believes it. There’s plane tracking data proving it. In today’s podcast I discuss why Israel might have disclosed the information.I also discuss Donald Trump’s visit to China, and have a long discussion with Pyotr Kurzin of the The Global Gambit podcast about the inner workings of the Iranian regime as well as relations between Gulf States and Ukraine.Please watch, listen, share, comment, and subscribe.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, IstanbulDiplomacy over Iran remains at an impasse, as Donald Trump heads to Beijing for his big meeting with Xi Jinping without a deal, a victory, or even an open Strait of Hormuz. Trump also reveals that he US tried to arm Iran’s opposition by handing weapons Kurds, despite his own skepticism, but that they stole the weapons instead.In today’s podcast I also discuss the freeing of Iranian human rights activist and women’s rights advocate Narges Mohammadi from Tehran’s Evin Prison, the topic of an interview with Austria’s Channel 4 radio. In a discussion with India’s NewsX, I grapple with the diplomatic complexity of Turkey’s relations with Qatar, two allies whose relationship has been put to the test by the Iran war. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Friday, May 8, 2026, Paris There was another exchange of fire between Iran and the US on Friday. This time Americans disabled two Iranians ships. Meanwhile Iran struck Dubai. Images emerged showing smoke rising from the city’s glitzy international airport.The UAE may have also taken part on a series of US airstrikes on Thursday targeting Tehran, Qeshm Island, and Bandar Abbas. Iran can’t reach the US aircraft carriers and bases launching those airstrikes and fighter jets. So it targets the Gulf States instead, particularly the United Arab Emirates, which Tehran sees as an extension of the US and Israel.Despite the skirmishes, both the US and Iran appear seem keen to avoid going back to the most ferocious days of the 40-day war. None of the attacks appear to have caused a much major damage or casualties. Both countries are also under quite a bit of domestic and international pressure to avoid a return to war. Negotiations continue, though there is a lot of misinformation floating around.I speak about these pressures, about the pull and push away and from a return to war, in an interview with South Era Network in today’s podcast.The war has also stripped away the illusions many have about the state of global leadership and global order. The crisis was caused by the west. Western nations coddled Israel enabled its dehumanizing of Arabs and Irans, and backed its wars. Western nations enabled Donald Trump by mostly refusing to stand up to him and giving in to his worst impulses. The war is now profoundly damaging the world. But it is being defused largely by the countries of Eurasia and the Global South. That includes Pakistan, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Turkey. The UN is nowhere to be found, Europe is pathetically absent, ineffective, and preoccupied—more an unprincipled supplicant to the US and Israel than a potential arbiter of a peace deal. I spoke about these geopolitical changes and the possible ushering in of a new era on in an interview with India’s News X World.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Thursday, May 7, 2026, ParisDespite a US-imposed ceasefire, Israel continued to aggressively target Lebanon, ostensibly to target members and leaders of the Shia group Hezbollah.On Wednesday, for the first time since the ceasefire, Israel also launched an attack on Beirut, targeting an apparent Hezbollah commander, but also in a likely attempt provoke Hezbollah’s Iranian patrons and complicated any move toward a deal between Tehran and Washington.I recently spoke with Jad al-Dilati, a researcher at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, and a native of the southern Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh. We spoke about the history of Israel’s military interventions in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s provocative rogue actions, and the way the war risks destroying the country’s fragile sectarian balance.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Wednesday, May 6, 2026, ParisLots of back and forth today on whether Iran and the US were getting closer to a deal or not. There were reports citing US officials saying that the countries were close to signing a memorandum of understanding that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic and serve as a framework for a broader and more durable deal.But Iranians denounced the US proposal as an American wishlist that would be quickly rejected. And then President Donald Trump poured cold water on any deal prospects by telling PBS Iran would have to give up all nuclear enrichment and hand its enriched uranium stockpile to the US. He also threatened to bomb the hell out of Iran.That was followed by Israel launching fresh airstrikes on Lebanon’s capital, blatantly violating a ceasefire agreement imposed by the US.All this comes ahead of Trump’s big visit to China next week.Trump would like to meet Xi Jinping from a position of strength. A hot war raging in the Middle East or an extended blockade of the Persian Gulf will make him look week and irresponsible. More likely than not, Trump wants to give the appearance of progress in talks and a resolution to the conflict in an attempt to put lipstick on a pig. He and his handlers want to prettify the mess they created in the Middle East with their typical bluster and fakery.If there is any move toward escalatory war, it will take place after the Beijing visit.The tragedy and the comedy is that there is a deal to be made with Iran. The problem is that it will inevitably be a near-facsimile of the one forged by Barack Obama that he ripped up eight years ago.I spoke about today’s news on NewsX World with host Asuma Kataoka.badlands is a reader-supported platform. To receive new posts 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

Tuesday, May 5, 2026, ParisIt was no surprise that the US tried to test Iran’s resolve on the Strait of Hormuz just after it announced the launch on Monday of its “Project Freedom,” an attempt to break the Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz by offering ships passage. What was a bit shocking was the Iranian response. It launched a barrage of missiles at the United Arab Emirates, including at least one that allegedly struck at the country’s sole Gulf of Oman oil terminal in the emirate Fujairah, setting it on fire. The messaging by the Iranians was clear. Tehran is not afraid of escalation. Indeed, some factions in Iran have been saying for weeks that the Pakistani-brokered ceasefire was a mistake. They argue that a return to war that would more rapidly damage the US-led global economy from which Iran has been excluded would be preferable to the current stalemate.On the today’s badlands podcast, I speak briefly about the recent, dangerous escalation. I also speak with India’s NewsXWorld about the continued US belief that Iran is fractured and whether it is even possible for the US to impose its world with military means alone.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Monday, May 4, 2026, Paris Iran opened fire at two US ships on Monday, even as Americans claimed that two US-flagged vessels managed to sneak through the Strait of Hormuz as part of President Donald Trump’s “Operation Freedom.”Centcom also said two US naval vessels are operating in the “Arabian Gulf” after managing to transit through the strait, despite Iranian warnings.It remains unclear how much the US and Iranian claims correspond to reality. Trump apppears unable to constrain himself from uttering a string mistruths. But if you clear away his bulster, there is a logic to the American plan. Iran’s strategy is to pressure Trump to give way on its demands by using the closure of the strait threatening to damage the world and US economies. Trump’s scheme is aimed at changing the global perceptions, if not the reality on the ground, about control over the strait, as well as build up leverage against the Iranians in any negotations. I spoke recently with India’s NewsX World about Trump’s bargaining position and whether he is being misled by those around him about Iran’s capabilities and stamina.We also discussed Iran’s nuclear program, and the possibily of a deal with the US. “The problem for Donald Trump is there is no deal that looks any better than the JCPOA, the nucelar deal that Barack Obama forged,” I told host Ruby Barlow in a brief interview. 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

Friday, May 1, 2026, LondonYou can count how many missiles or how much oil storage capacity Iran has and how many interceptors and Tomahawak missiles the US has and conclude the war between the countries can only last a few more months.But history shows us that wars can drastically reshape nations, and that it’s possible and likely that the warring countries and the rest of the world could make dramatic changes to survive a war that lasts years.The potential length of the war was a subject that we discussed during in a discussion with fellow Columbia Journalism School graduate Fahd Husain on his show Full Frame, broadcast on Pakistan’s Express 24-7 English news outlet.Even as a shaky ceasefire holds between Iran and the US, the conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah continues during a truce that appears to be in name only. On India’s NewsX, host Asuma Kataoka and I discussed the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon, Iran’s relationship with Hezbollah, and why Israel appears impervious to international pressure.Also, on NewsX, host Ruby Barlow asked me about a report this week saying that press freedoms worldwide had struck a new low. I discuss the multiple forces that are putting pressure on journalists.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

April 30, 2026Iraq this week agreed on a new prime minister-designate, a relatively unknown player, who was blessed by the constellation of Shia political parties, power brokers, and armed factions who dominate the country.Ali al-Zaid, born 1986, is relatively young businessman whose interests include media and supermarkets. He succeeds Mohammed al-Sudani after a weeks-long deadlock that followed the Americans’ threats to withold Iraq’s own money if it renamed former prime minister Nouri Maliki to the top post.Adding to the tensions between Iraq and the US was the role of Iraq’s Iranian-backed Shia militias, who played a role in the war by the US and Israel against Iran. The shadowy armed groups launched barrages of rockets at Saudi Arabia as well as US and foreign bases in the region.In an interview with badlands, scholar Inna Rudolf said wrestling with the power, influence, and unauthorized actions of the armed groups has become Iraq’s top political issues. The author of the soon-to-be-published book, “Iraq’s Shia Warriors: From Battlefield to Pariliament,” said most of the main Shia parties boast armed groups.Many of those armed groups are now officially part of the government, integrated into the security forces as part of the Popular Mobilization Forces. But only a few are involved in stirring up trouble in Iraq and the region, she said.Those “rogue” militias are part of the unofficial Islamic Resistance of Iraq, a shadowy network operating outside of the official channels. “Of course it’s rogue elements,” she said. “The moment you take for yourself the decision to decide on matters of war and peace, you’re already violating the mandate of the executive and even the very philosophy, the institutional DNA behind” the Popular Mobilization Forces.Rolf said the attacks launched by the Islamic Resistance of Iraq were widely condemned by the Iraqi government and rejected by ordinary people. “From the mood on the Iraqi streets, there was very little enthusiasm of seeing the country dragged again in ill-timed geopolitical escalation,” she said. “And in a way, seeing the Iraqi people paying the price for whatever score settling process is going on,”She noted the ironies and complexities of Iraq’s predicament. For example, when the Islamic Resistance of Iraq fired upon bases hosting US forces in the first weeks of the war, it also targeted members of the very same Popular Mobilization Forces with which it is affilated.When Americans fired back and killed members of the Iran-backed rogue group Katayeb Hezbollah in retalation, they were given state funerals, replete with the Iraqi flag.Katayeb Hezbollah and a few other militias seem to act on their own accord, blatantly thumbing their noses at the state’s monopoly on violence.“Ketayeb Hezbollah has shown very little restraints when it comes to really claiming and admitting to having overstepped the mandates of engaging in operations that do not come like from the directives of the commander-in-chief,” she said,But Rolf said US forces attacks on the armed groups also undermine the authority of the Iraqi state by reinforcing the idea that a foreign power can violate the country’s sovereignty.“To engage militarily with the rogue groups, one really has to think twice and triple and to do more in coordination with the Iraqi government,” she said. “Because like the more talking points you hand to, let’s say, the speaker of Katayeb Hezbollah or one of the other groups. The harder you make it for the commander-in-chief to really assert himself and to speak with confidence that, ‘No, I am the one authority who can guarantee that I protect Iraq’s security forces.’”Please watch or listen to this fascinating discussion.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Wednesday, April 29, 2026, LondonWas it all an op? A blockbuster piece in Israel’s Ynet by journalists Nahum Barnea and Ronen Bergman said Israel’s spy services began planning to topple Iran’s regime four years ago.The plan by Benjamin Netanyahu and the Mossad was to kill Iran’s leaders, spark a popular uprising, and back a Kurdish insurgency in the country’s west.According to the Hebrew-language report, Israel’s plans relied heavily on influence operations inside the country to overthrow the regime with mass protests.Thanks for reading badlands! This post is public so feel free to share it.The article said Israel was heavily involved in the January uprising that provided the humanitarian fig leaf for the US-Israeli war.Needless to say, the scheme totally failed. Iran’s hardliners emerged stronger than ever. And Iran is arguably stronger than ever. Nations around the world are now negotiating with Iran to get access to the Strait of Hormuz.What emerges are immense intelligence failures, arrogance, and a lack of proper analytical understanding of Iran in the run-up to the war that continue to hamper war efforts.I recently was a guest on Algeria’s 24-hour news channel, in which I discussed the strategic failures that brought us to this point.Please listen or watch!badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Monday, April 27, 2026Iran’s defense ministry said on Saturday that the US was desperately looking for an offramp from the war that he and Israel launched against Israel.“Donald Trump is in a tough situation,” I tell India’s NewsX in an interview.We also discuss Iran’s nuclear program, its human rights records, Turkey and Europe’s worries about the conflict, and the declining influence and stature of the US and the West. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Thursday, April 23, 2026, ParisPresident Donald Trump and Israel continued to wave their sabres. Trump posted a message on Truth Social calling for an attack on Iran’s leadership while Israel’s defense minister Israel Katz said it was eager for war:We are waiting for the green light from the U.S., first and foremost, to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty and to return Iran to the dark and stone ages by destroying Iran's major energy and power facilities. This time, our strikes will be different and more deadly, and will deliver further devastating blows to the most painful places, which will shake and collapse the regime's foundations.The tough talk came shortly after Iran paraded weapons through the streets of Tehran in a supposed show of strength right out of the autocrat’s handbook.On tonight’s France 24, I joined host Francois Picard, geopolitical analuyst Paymon Azmoudeh, former French ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli, and former Pakistani ambassador to the US Aizaz Ahmad Chaudry for a lively and informartive discussion about whether diplomacy can avert the path to a renewal of war and a dangerous escalation.Listen, watch, share, subscribe.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Wednesday, April 22, 2026, ParisThe talks are off but the dual blockade of the Persian Gulf continues. Iran is barring ships from other countries from entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz, while the US is barring Iranian ships from the chokepoint.The game of brinkmanship is costing the global economy dearly. Sahar Mechmech, an economist at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, said fragile Arab economies are already feeling the strain by being forced to increase subsidies for fuel. “It’s the state and the country and the government that has to bear the cost of that increase in value between the domestic price of oil and the international price,” she told badlands in an interview.The cost crunch and security crisis also imperils ongoing and future efforts to rebuild war-ravaged parts of the region. “When we talk about reconstruction in Lebanon or in Syria or in Gaza, the assumption is that the US and its allies will stabilize the country politically, and then the Gulf is going to come in with a lot of money to finance reconstruction,” she said. “With this current conflict, will that money materialize? We don’t know.”What’s not in doubt is who the Arab world blames for the crisis. “What we’ve seen is that the U.S. actions in Iran and in Lebanon and in in Palestine have had real consequences on people’s perceptions of it, even in countries that are supposedly allied with it,” she said. “So that puts a lot of the long term interests of the US at risk.”Watch or listen, like, share, and subscribe!badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Tuesday, April 21, 2026, ParisPlans to arrange another round of talks between Iran and the US hit an apparent impasse as a deadline US President Donald Trump set for resuming the war looms.The United Arab Emirates asks for a bailout, and China offers a peace plan.Watch or listen to me discuss the latest on India’s NewsX. 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

Monday, April 20, 2026The US fired upon and damaged the Iranian commercial ship Touska on Sunday as it tried to traverse the Strait of Hormuz and head into the Persian Gulf.The incident showed the US is serious about imposing a blockade on Iranian traffic into the Strait, an attempt to pressure Iran to open up the waterway to international traffic.The US believes that impeding Iran’s access to the waterway will further damage its economy, force it to open up the Strait, and give concessions in ongoing negotiations. Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder and chief executive of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation, tracks Iran’s economy. In a wide-ranging interview, he says while the pressure can and will hurt Iran’s economy, such pressure has rarely changed its policies.Batmanghelidj also details the impact of the blockade on Iran and assesses the damage caused by the war. Please listen or watch, like, share, and subscribe.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Friday, April 17, 2026, Istanbul A blockbuster report by the Financial Times alleged that China had sold Iran a satellite likely being used for precision targeting of US and potentially Israeli assets during the war. The revelation brought to the fore the long-term relationship between Tehran and Beijing, which provides Iran with capital, military equipment, and diplomatic support. But scholar Ahmed Aboudouh, of Chatham House and the Emirates Policy Center, says China views Iran as a problematic, especially now that its war with the US and Israel has destabilized the Middle East and disrupted crucial oil supplies. Aboudouh, a longtime specialist on relations between China and the Middle East, describes China as highly cautious and calculating diplomatic player is looking at the current war with skepticism and worry. Please listen or watch.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Thursday, April 16, 2026, IstanbulWith a shaky US-enforced ceasefire in its war against Iran, ongoing fighting in Lebanon, and continued violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, you would think Israel has enough on its plate.Apparently not. For some reason, Israel and its assets in the US have decided this is the right moment to also pick a fight with Turkey, a NATO member that boasts the alliance’s second largest army and hosts US nuclear weapons.Turkey-based US analyst Sophie Fullerton, a lecturer at New York’s Fordham University, says Israel and its signal-boosters in the US are seeking the next existentital threat to justify continued American support. She notes in an interview with badlands that evangelical preachers likely within Israel’s US-based influence networks have begun speaking about Turkey, using fact-free talking points in a likely attempt to influence American policy.Please listen or watch, comment, and subscribe.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, IstanbulAfter weeks of spewing venom at Iran through various surrogates, United Arab Emirates deputy prime minister Mansour bin Zayed picked up the phone Wednesday and rang up Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s speaker of the parliament and a major power broker in Tehran. During the call, the two “discussed regional developments and ways to de-escalate tensions in the region.”This followed the weeks-long war that pitted the US and Israel against Islamic Republic but drew in the Gulf states, which came under fire from Iran. The call showed that despite the animosity Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council states are neighbors that know they must learn to live next to each other.On tonight’s France 24, I joined a distinguished panel of experts thats included speakers in Qatar and Oman. We discussed the future of the Gulf states and their strategies for survival, including my recent piece about how the UAE is causing immense troubles behind the scenes.Please listen or watch.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Monday, April 13, 2026, IstanbulIran has retrofitted its arms indusrty and security posture several times in the last few decades. After the Iran-Iraq war, it committed to developing an expansive missiles program to fend off any attacks from neighbors in the Arab world.Following the 2003 US war against Iraq, it developed the mosaic defnse doctrine under which it granted authority to regional commanders to fight on their own in case a global superpower destroyed command and control.After last year’s 12-day war, Iran made two key changes. Faced with a ferocious Israel assassination campaign it ordered each commander name their own successors, in case they were killed. More crucially, says Ali Ahmadi of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and a former adviser to Iran’s UN Mission in New York, Iran moved its missile production into the cavernous mountain redoubts it had installed, giving them a measure of longevity in a prolonged war of attrition.I wrote about Iran’s stamina in an article for the Singapore Straits Times which is available to paid subscribers. You can also listen or watch my interview with Ahmadi, in which we discuss how well-prepared Iran is for the next round of fighting.Journalism requires time and resource. If you can afford it please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive all my content and support my work. 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

Saturday, April 11, 2026, Istanbul Diplomatic delegations gathered in the Pakistani capital on Saturday for the start of historic talks between the the US and Iran aimed at re-opening the Strait of Hormuz and establishing a more durable peace. For the latest podcast I spoke with Hossam Rossam, a former political analyst for the UK embassy in Tehran and ex senior analyst at Iran International. We discussed the significance of the ongoing talks, whether and how the Iranian regime will ]survive its current crisis, and the state of the Iranian opposition.Please listen or watch this timely and entirely free episode. Please consider upgrading to a paid subscription or sharing this podcast. (Photo: The Iranian negotiating team arrives in Pakistan for talks with the US.)Journalism takes time and money. To receive all badlands posts and support my work, consider becoming a 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comFriday, April 10, 2026, IstanbulYou can’t totally blame Donald Trump for not being able to imagine that Iran would close Strait of Hormuz. Nader Itayim, Mideast Gulf editor at energy and commodities focused Argus Media, said many energy analysts long doubted Iran would pull off such a move, even as it regularly warned that it would.“I was part of that group that believed this was not a thing that could happen—at least not in the way that it did,” the energy analyst told me in an interview.We also discussed the state of the Strait of Hormuz now, and how Iran was enforcing the closure, as well as the overall economic impact of the crisis for the prices of energy and other commodities, and how the higher energy prices are boosting the profits of oil and gas companies.

Tuesday, Aptil 7, 2026, IstanbulHungary’s April 12 elettions could finally end the political career of Viktor Orban, rhe rightwing populist and Vladimir Putin ally who has ruled the country since 2010. Orban, mired in allegations of corruption, is losing to challlenger Peter Magyar. He is a one-time loyalist to Orban who broke with him two years ago. Marc Roscoe Loustau of the Central European University is a scholar based in Budapest. He spoke with me recently about the upcoming vote, and its broader regional and global implications.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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

Sunday, April 5, 2026, IstanbulThe Iran war escalates after a US plane was shot down over southern Iran, prompting an ambitious search-and-rescue mission.Join me and a panel of experts as we discuss the latest in the Iran war, along with other news stories on France 24’s The World This Week. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts 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