Welcome to “Understanding the Middle East” (Part 2.)  This audiobook excerpt is designed to help with “some” understanding of today’s headlines.  While I can’t make full sense of the current war in Israel, I can provide some historical background to the conflict. This background won’t provide commentary on recent events, but it’s a starting point for those that might not be familiar with the Islamic Republic of Iran (or the story of the American Hostage Crisis under Jimmy Carter.) For best results, please don’t miss “Understanding the Middle East” Parts 1 and 3. (This pre-recorded audiobook excerpt is from The Mystery of History Volume IV, Lesson 75, “Ayatollah Khomeini Forms the Islamic Republic of Iran—April 1, 1979.”)