At recording time (January 16), we don't know what the outcome will be in Iran -- as the Islamic Republic's regime vows to quash the widespread protests by Iranians demanding freedom.

And we don't know if the United States will really strike targets in Iran.

But we do hear Reza Pahlavi -- the son of the late, overthrown Shah of Iran -- vowing to be a bridge to a new democratic Iran, promising to be friendly to the United States.  And to Israel.

Dan then interviews an Israeli special forces commander who insists on anonymity -- for his personal security -- but is willing to lift the veil on ultramodern intelligence equipment that is brought to the combat front during a war.

When 251 hostages were kidnapped into Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, he took part in the intensive efforts to fill in the pieces of "the puzzle" for each captive: hoping to arrange rescues.  For most of the hostages, Israeli intelligence reluctantly concluded that rescue raids would be impossible.

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program." For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

(You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.