"The problem is that the US is once again getting bad advice from the usual suspects. Such economic pressure is unlikely to work. It may result in reciprocal economic measures and escalation by Iran that will further damage the world economy and potentially lead back to armed escalation."

Within secret caverns carved out inside formidable mountains and out of sight of spy planes and satellites, Iran is likely turning out new missiles and drones ahead of what it anticipates to be the next round of fighting against the US and Israel.

Great interview today with Hossein Rassam about the future of Iran now that the war seems to have wound down. borzou.substack.com

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, as it regularly warned. “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 UAE’s role in the chaos and misery of the Middle East is largely underappreciated and underreported. The glittering towers and glamorous fun-filled social media images of Dubai and Abu Dhabi obscure a dark, grim, and bloody reality.

Bomb Iran? Hormuz closed. Assassinate a regime figure? Hormuz closed. Sanctions the Revolutionary Guard? Sorry, Hormuz is closed. Tweet something obnoxious? Closed today. borzou.substack.com/p/lets-face-...

🔥 HASAN: “There’s a battle brewing — against not only the corrupt, fascist forces of the Republican Party… but also against do-nothing Dems that fundraise from corporate donors and put YOUR interests 2nd… Remember: every dollar spent on a bomb is stolen from YOU.”

“What I clearly see are people, who until now had no sympathy for the regime, siding with the Islamic republic – and thanking the IRGC for being the servant of territorial integrity,” said aninternational official living in Tehran.

The Iran war escalates after a US plane was shot down over southern Iran, prompting an ambitious search-and-rescue mission. borzou.substack.com/p/the-iran-w...

Fascinating discussion last night about the Iran war on FRANCE 24 English with François Picard and a panel of distinguished guests, with a focus on the Gulf and how the conflict will impact the region. open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

As the US threatens to start a ground war in Iran and seize Kharg Island, independent journalist Borzou Daraghi @borzou.bsky.social tells #France24Debate that the Iranian regime "wants to create body bags and send them back home".

The war is devastating Lebanon, and raising suspicions about Israel’s intentions. Listen to me discuss on NPR/WBUR Here & Now open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

Yemen’s Houthi-led government has made its debut in the war launched by Israel and the US against Iran. The Iran-allied group’s participation in the conflict will complicate any US attempt to seize Iranian territory, as I discuss on NewsX open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

Iran's cool Lego videos? I spoke with Kevin L. Schwartz about Iran’s meme factory, his thesis that the roots of the war between Iran and the US date back to the early 2000s, and other topics on the latest fascinating edition of the badlands podcast. borzou.substack.com/p/iran-lets-...

Yemen, Ukraine, Russia, China, and the Gulf states are all now being drawn into the war by the US and Israel against Iran. If the war drags on for additional weeks or months, more countries will be drawn in and the conflict could turn into something like World War III.

Please subscibe at borzou.substack.com

I spent two days at the Iran-Turkey border crossing, interviewing Iranians as they emerged from the gate. Because of the communications blackout imposed by the regime, it has been a struggle to interview Iranians inside the country.There were regime supporters, as well as opponents...

At a time when the US, China, and Iran are using critical global checkpoints to bolster their influence, maybe middle powers like Algeria should do the same. My latest commentary for badlands borzou.substack.com/p/algerias-g...

Thank you @borzou.bsky.social for a very late night conversation from the Turkey-Iran border, on the folly of the Trump Iran war. youtu.be/_h1uL-uPgbk?...

I debate a strong advocate of the Iran war in a civil and substantive discussion about the whether the conflict can succeed. Please listen watch or listen to this this civil but sometimes heated conversation. borzou.substack.com/p/pro-war-vs...

The US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s gas field and the subsequent counter attacks by Iran on Arabian Peninsula facilities will have a profound impact on the globally economy. Get ready for a global recession and rising energy prices My interview with Umud Shokri substack.com/@borzoudarag...

The Iran war further destablilizes Lebanon, while a resignation in Washington could be the signal of a deadly new phase in the conflict. The media calls allegations the US went to war on behalf of Israel a conspiracy theory, but even Trump confirms it. My latest piece and lengthy interview w/ NewsX

The death of an elite French soldier shines a light on how the Iran war is spreading to Iraq and how France may be more deeply involved in the war effort than it lets on. borzou.substack.com/p/the-iran-w...

"Many Iranians will not be willing to fight for the regime. But they will donate blood. They will volunteer. They will pull their compatriots from the rubble. As long as the war, the death, and the destruction comtinue, they will mourn together." substack.com/@borzoudarag...

“They have lost their leverage. Their early positions alienated Iran, and their cynical shifts and meandering stances will only encourage Israel and the US to ignore their interests.” open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

In the last day or so Iran issued a statement meant to strike fear across the US tech sector-a list of US-based companies that it said could be subject to attack.

Journalist Nabih Bulos recently returned from a rare reporting trip to Sudan. He covered the still-simmering civil war and its continuing fallout, He sit down for an an extensive interview with badlands about one of the worst outbreaks of violence this century. borzou.substack.com/p/sudans-for...

Iran can’t compete with air strikes, but it can jack up the price of oil @borzou.bsky.social highlights how #Iran is driving up the cost of the #IranWar for the US More in #F24Debate ➡️ f24.my/6GOp

Who’s winning and who is losing the war? Is that even the right question? My interview with Hamidreza Azizi substack.com/@borzoudarag...

The US and Israel killed his father, mother, and wife. Now he’s in charge of Iran. I spoke about Mujtaba Khamenei and why his elevation might lead to an escalation in the war during an interview earlier Sunday. open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

Trump could’ve listened to his own expert. Instead, he trusted Lindsey Graham. open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

The US wants to use Iranian Kurds to topple the Tehran regime. Here’s why it won’t work. open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

Only 32 out of 180 crew aboard have been rescued. They were fathers, brothers, sons. Some weren’t even fighters. They were musicians for the Iranian Navy band. borzou.substack.com/p/dishonorab...

The Middle East is aflame, from Tehran to Tel Aviv, and regional countries are being drawn in. Hear me discuss on @news.rte.ie open.spotify.com/episode/36wD...

Khamenei is dead. Could Trump take the win and end the war quickly? Me on News X

I would have liked to have seen Khamenei stand trial for his many crimes, and be interviewed about his actions and his state of mind in the cold dark jail prison where he would spend his last days. I resent that he was awarded a hero’s death. He didn’t deserve it. borzou.substack.com/p/khamenei-g...

“The US has never been in a head-on war with a country of Iran’s population, size, and industrial power. Iran has never faced off against adversaries as powerful and determined to do maximum damage as the US and Israel." open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

A war of the Epstein class, by the Epstein class, for the Epstein class

Maybe Iran should accept the US terms. It was Iran’s arsenal of missiles that ultimately served as a deterrent during the 12-day war. It was the barrage of rockets and drones that hit Tel Aviv prompting Israel to ask the US to put an end to the conflict. The nucelar program ultimately did nothing.

Ukraine war turned 4 years old this week. It has receded into the background, even as the carnage continues. Anton Shekhovtsov is a Ukrainian scholar at Central European University. He joins me for an interview about the state of the war & its worldwide implications open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

The US has a vast armada of ships and planes amassed around Iran. But to what end? Will a US and Israeli war against Iran lead to democracy? Destroy its nuclear program? Make Americans safer? And what will be the ultimate consequences for the region and for Iran? substack.com/@borzoudarag...

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee says he’s cool with a Greater Israel stretching from Iraq to Egypt. The rest of the Middle East? Not so much. open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p...

“None of this makes military strategic sense.” @borzou.bsky.social criticizes the Trump administration’s approach to #Iran on #F24Debate ➡️ f24.my/BlCM

Why bomb Iran? Why do it now? Monday #F24Debate sizes up reasoning for eventual U.S. strikes