This week, Kelley and Dan talk with researcher and Bourse & Bazaar Foundation founder Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, who has been digging deep into the issue of U.S. sanctions on Iran and how they have been driving inflation and mostly impacting the middle and working households there. More importantly, he discusses whether or not U.S. sanctions are even successful in bringing Tehran to heel. In the first segment, we talk about recent mainstream smears against those opposed to a possible war with Russia over Ukraine, particularly on the right, as hawks and their handmaidens in the press single out some of the contrarian conservative populists as marginalized kooks.

More from Esfandyar Batmanghelidj:

The Inflation Weapon: How American Sanctions Harm Iranian Households -- Sanctions & Security -- 2022

Shared interests: Why both China and the West support the Iran nuclear deal -- ECFR -- Jan. 17, 2022.

The Hidden Toll of Sanctions: Why Washington Must Reckon With the Devastating Inflation Its Policies Cause, w/ Erica Moret -- Foreign Affairs -- Jan. 17, 2022

The Case for Optimism on Iran in 2022 and Beyond -- -- Bourse & Bazaar Foundation -- Jan. 2, 2022

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crashingthewarparty.substack.com