Episode 138 - Escalation

This week, Roqayah and Kumars are joined by Bahman Kalbasi, who serves as the New York and United Nations Correspondent for BBC Persian. Bahman, who has also covered international affairs for the CBC, discusses the wide-ranging implications of US policy against Iran under the Trump administration and the administrations of Trump’s predecessors. Bahman, who has previously interviewed then-president Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, examines the similarities and differences between the Obama administration's policy towards Iran and that of Donald Trump, who has in some ways taken a more proactively hawkish position. Bahman offers his takes on the influence of Iran’s regional rivals as well as National Security Advisor John Bolton. The crew discusses the language of US-Iran relations, and how threats from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, coupled with military posturing and vague pre-conditions, are escalating tensions. Bahman also highlights the lasting impact that oil sanctions and US aggression has had on the Iranian people—specifically their access to increasingly expensive medicine and food—and how US allies, including the UAE and Israel, have helped tighten the grip and further isolate Iran. You can follow Bahman on Twitter where tweets in English @BahmanKalbasi, and in Persian @bbckalbasi. If you want to support the show and receive access to tons of bonus content, subscribe on our Patreon for as little as $5 a month. Also, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show on iTunes. We can't do this show without your support!!!