In tonight's episode of The Restful Record, we journey through the layered history of Tehran, Iran’s dynamic capital—once a vital hub along the Silk Road and now a geopolitical flashpoint. From the Mongol invasion led by Genghis Khan, which reshaped the Persian plateau, to the strategic role Iran played during World War I, Tehran has long been at the crossroads of empire and resistance.

We explore the roots and ripple effects of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when decades of monarchy collapsed and gave rise to the Islamic Republic, followed by the dramatic kidnapping of U.S. embassy employees in Tehran—an event that shattered Iran-U.S. relations and still reverberates today.

This episode also unpacks the complex and tense relationship between Iran and Israel, including the latest developments in the 2025 Iran-Israel conflict. With a focus on diplomacy, defiance, and domestic resilience, we highlight Tehran's central role in shaping—and challenging—the balance of power in the Middle East.

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Podcast cover art image by Eric Nopanen.