Iran v. The Islamic Republic (featuring Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi)

About this episode

Welcome to inaugural episode of The Iran Breakdown, hosted by Mark Dubowitz. About the EpisodeThere’s a truth we’ll come back to again and again on this show: The Iranian people are extraordinary. Whether in Tehran or Los Angeles, Berlin or Toronto — Iranians are known for their brilliance, resilience, and drive. Here’s the tragedy: Only Iranians living outside the Islamic Republic are free to thrive. Inside Iran, under the grip of this brutal regime, that potential is crushed. But it wasn’t always this way. Just a few decades ago, Iran was a very different place. Women walked the streets in high fashion, Tehran’s vibrant nightlife rivaled Paris, and yes — Iran’s vineyards produced world-renowned wines that you could enjoy in the open. The people of Iran used to be free — before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 turned their lives, and their country, upside down. Before we dive into today’s regime — its nuclear ambitions, its terror networks, and its stranglehold on the Iranian people — we need to understand how we got here. In this episode, we’ll explore the regime’s relentless crackdown on dissent, the courage of Iran’s opposition, and the critical role the free world must pl