The Deprogram Teaser: Episode 225 - The Iran Episode
Mar 16, 2026
A wide-ranging tour of Iran’s modern history from oil nationalization and the 1953 coup to the Shah’s White Revolution and the 1979 political realignment. A deep dive into decades of pressure: sabotage, assassinations, and layered sanctions from asset freezes to SWIFT exclusion. Discussion of practical impacts on trade, banking, and everyday commerce.
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Brookings Playbook Predicts US Moves
- Brookings white papers lay out step-by-step US strategies for pressuring states like Iran, from diplomacy to invasion.
- The episode cites a 2009 Brookings paper that predicted many actions later implemented against Iran.
How Policy White Papers Become Law
- The hosts note white papers are often funded by private sector and the military‑industrial complex and then rubber‑stamped by Congress.
- Unknown Host (Primary) emphasizes these papers become law via lawyers and quick summaries to legislators.
Oil Nationalization Triggered 1953 Coup
- 1950s Iran saw oil dominated by the Anglo‑Iranian Oil Company, enriching Britain while impoverishing Iran.
- Mossadegh nationalized oil in 1951, provoking British and US-led intervention culminating in the 1953 coup.