🎙️ Voice For Freedom Podcast | Ep. 22

"What's Happening in Iran?"

In this episode, Simeon engages in a deep conversation with Jonathan Schanzer, the executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, focusing on the complex political landscape of Iran. Schanzer provides a historical overview of Iran, emphasizing its rich cultural heritage and the significant shift that occurred post-1979 with the rise of the theocratic regime under Ayatollah Khomeini. He discusses the implications of this regime's policies, including its exportation of radicalism and the impact on global security, particularly concerning the United States and its allies. Schanzer argues that the Iranian regime's actions have led to widespread unrest among its citizens, who are increasingly disillusioned with the oppressive government and yearn for a return to a more liberal society.

The conversation also delves into the potential for regime change in Iran, with Schanzer advocating for a proactive approach from the U.S. to support the Iranian people's aspirations for freedom. He highlights the historical context of U.S. interventions and the lessons learned from past experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Schanzer emphasizes the importance of understanding the Iranian people's perspective and the need for a strategic response to the ongoing unrest, suggesting that a successful regime change could lead to greater stability in the Middle East and benefit U.S. interests. The episode concludes with a discussion on the role of Israel and other regional players such as Qatar in the current dynamics, underscoring the interconnectedness of global politics.

👇Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background

00:22 Overview of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

03:07 A Brief History of Iran

08:29 Life in Iran Before and After 1979

15:56 The Case for Regime Change

23:07 The Benefits of Regime Change for the U.S.

27:34 The Chessboard of Global Politics

29:01 Understanding Values in Western Civilization

30:58 Protests: U.S. vs. Iran

35:36 Potential Outcomes of a Free Iran

38:13 Israel's Role in Iran's Unrest

43:44 U.S. Involvement: A Complex Decision

51:16 Qatar: The Arsonist and the Firefighter

👇Takeaways

• 'The Iranian people are pro-West, they're pro-America, they're pro-Israel.'
• 'The regime is a minority controlling the majority.'
• 'We need to be trying to shape the world.'
• 'The moment we step back is the moment we seed ground to our adversaries.'
• 'This is a population that's been suffering under a regime since 1979.'
• 'The Iranian regime has been at the heart of every challenge we have faced.'
• 'The primary agent for all of the insurrections that we faced around the region would have been dislodged.'
• 'The Israelis are finally getting into the fight.'
• 'The Iranian regime is the arsonist and the firefighter in the region.'
• 'We should not allow this tiny terror funding state to have the kind of influence that it does.'

🎙️Host:

Simeon Myers: Residing in the US, Simeon oversees ARISE's day-to-day operations and initiatives. Prior to pivoting with his brother to the ARISE initiative, Simeon served alongside Calev as Executive Director for the Jerusalem Institute of Justice. A bit of a renaissance man, Simeon owned and operated a jewelry design and manufacturing company in his early life. He has been a singer/songwriter with television placement, a poker professional, and currently works in film production/directing. If you can't reach Simeon, he's probably out on a mountain stream fly fishing.

🎙️ Learn more about our guest, Jonathan Schanzer, at

X (Twitter):

@JSchanzer

Instagram:

@Jonathan.Schanzer

Foundation For Defense of Democracies Website:

https://fdd.org

🔗 Watch this episode at

https://youtu.be/2F7FFdEG2u0

🔗 Learn more at

https://ariseforisrael.com/