Searching for Cracks in Iran's Core: Michael Doran

Michael speaks with Michael Doran, Director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East and a former senior director in the National Security Council, about the outlook for U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. Mr. Doran explains the internal power dynamics within the Iranian regime and why they matter to potential negotiations to de-escalate or end the conflict. He also explores the likely diverging interests of Israeli and American leaders, why understanding the influence of Iranian ethnic groups is vital to charting possible outcomes, and why he believes a citizen-led uprising to topple the government is unlikely.

Michael discusses the rapidly developing conflict in the Middle East with General Joseph Votel, former commander of CENTCOM and U.S. Special Operations Command. General Votel analyzes the strategic implications of Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz and the challenges of a potential special operations raid to recover highly enriched uranium in the country. He also examines the shifting power dynamics within the Iranian regime, including how the new Supreme Leader's lack of religious credentials may lead to increased influence from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Michael Allen discusses Iran's new Supreme Leader with Jeffrey Feltman, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and former UN Under-Secretary-General. Feltman examines the sudden rise of Mojtaba Khamenei following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, and discusses the regime's internal cohesion despite widespread domestic opposition. He also explains Israeli military targeting strategies, the risk of a "race for the bomb," and the potential for significant regional escalation.

In an exclusive conversation, Michael talks to former National Security Council Director for Iran Richard Nephew about the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and the regime's response. Richard, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, explores how a collapse of the Islamic Republic could unfold and the last-ditch retaliation measures the regime could take against its Middle East neighbors and U.S. forces in the region. He also evaluates leadership succession possibilities and growing concerns regarding nuclear proliferation.

Michael joins Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to discuss the U.S.-Israel combined attacks on Iran. RADM Montgomery, an expert in U.S. national security, explores the potential for Iranian regime change, regional security impacts, and Iran's strategic vulnerabilities. He also breaks down the massive air power currently assembled in the region and the likelihood of an expanded Iranian retaliation campaign.

Michael speaks with Dr. Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about the violent fallout from the Mexican army's deadly operation against drug kingpin "El Mencho." Ryan analyzes what's at stake for the U.S. as narco-barricades and violence force Americans to shelter in place, and explains how the U.S.-Mexico relationship is shifting as the White House turns up the heat on cartels. They also discuss the lingering fragility of the Cuban regime, and a high-stakes roadmap for Venezuela's future.  

Michael speaks with Josh Meservey, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and one of the nation's leading experts on African geopolitics and counterterrorism. Josh discusses the high-stakes Sudanese Civil War, its ripple effects across the Red Sea into the Middle East, and why the US has a stake in the region's stability, trade, and security. Josh also explains the Great Power competition unfolding in Africa as China works to escalate its influence.

Michael speaks with the former Chief of the IDF Intelligence Directorate Maj. Gen. (res.) Tamir Hayman about the increasing likelihood of military action against Iran's missile program. Gen. Hayman—who serves as Executive Director of the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)—analyzes the complex regional "reshuffle," explaining how Saudi Arabia is recalibrating its position through a rapprochement with Iran while distancing itself from the UAE and Israel. Gen. Hayman also offers his forecast on the future of Hamas and Gaza, and the broader outlook for regional stability.

Michael speaks with Gregory Brew, Senior Analyst at the Eurasia Group and country analyst for Iran, about the high-stakes decision facing the Islamic Republic: "strikes or talks." Greg analyzes the upcoming diplomatic summit in Istanbul, where the U.S. is pushing for "maximalist concessions" regarding Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile stockpile, and regional proxy networks like Hamas and Hezbollah. Greg also discusses the strategic leverage of the recent U.S. naval buildup in the Middle East and whether these talks are a deliberate pretext for military action against Tehran. Greg also breaks down Iran's internal "credibility crisis" and the future of regional stability. 

Michael speaks with Richard Goldberg, a Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former Director for Countering Iranian WMD at the National Security Council. Rich provides a masterclass on the historical and modern context of Iranian protest movements, explaining why the most recent uprising is fundamentally different from previous ones. He breaks down the regime's playbook of violence—including internet blackouts and brute force—while examining the strategic failures of past U.S. administrations. Rich also discusses the outlook for the Islamic Republic in the coming weeks and whether the regime can survive its own internal contradictions and increasing international isolation.