USC professor Muhammad Sahimi returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in the protests in Iran, describes how the current regime is responsible for the justified grievances of the people protesting, and explains why some people fear regime change given the opportunistic nature of .the Trump administration, the aftermath of post-Gaddafi Libya, and the role of the Iranian far right in fomenting the protests. Sahimi then explains how the Iran Deal has backfired for Rouhani who over-promised and under-delivered on the economic benefits and the potential consequences of Trump killing the deal. Finally Sahimi explains why he thinks full-scale revolution is unnecessary, that the Supreme Leader is the problem with Iranian politics, and what he believes is necessary for peaceful reformation.
Muhammad Sahimi is the NIOC Chair in petroleum engineering at the University of Southern California and a contributor at Antiwar.com and the Huffington Post.
Discussed on the show:
- Hassan Rouhani
- “The Iran Nuclear Deal Could Be Dead in 11 Days,” by Spencer Ackerman (Daily Beast)
- “Tenth Anniversary of Iraq Invasion: Lessons & Warnings for an Illegal War on Iran,” by Muhammad Sahimi (Antiwar.com)
- Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Iranian Green Movement (2009)
- Mir-Hossein Mousavi
Today’s show is sponsored by: NoDev, NoOps, NotIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; 3tediting.com; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Darrin’s Coffee.
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