How does the Iranian regime maintain its control over the majority, and what are the chances it falls? Are there realistic ways the West can help that happen?
JNS CEO and Jerusalem bureau chief Alex Traiman sits down with Iranian-born journalist, analyst and author Banafsheh Zand for an inside look at the true nature of the Islamic Republic and the global stakes of its survival.
The episode explores the origins of Iran’s theocratic regime; its use of violence and lies to suppress internal dissent; and its decades-long manipulation of Western leaders. Zand exposes the inner workings of the regime, the complicity of Western governments and media, and how oil wealth continues to bankroll terror across the region—from Hezbollah to Hamas.
Zand also explains the Iranian people’s quiet resistance, the enduring trauma of political repression and the growing possibility of regime change as the mullahs lose control of their foreign terror proxies. She offers unique insight into the 2009 Green Revolution, the ongoing civil protests and the grassroots infrastructure already in place to rebuild a free Iran—highlighting a stark contrast with failed nation-building attempts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The discussion turns critical as Traiman questions whether U.S. policies, especially under the Obama and Biden administrations, have actively empowered Tehran. Zand warns that appeasement has confused the Iranian public and delayed any real change. The episode ends with a sobering look at Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the global risks of continuing to legitimize a regime bent on religious domination and destruction.
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