The Dispatch Podcast Iran's Zombie Regime
42 snips
Feb 10, 2026 
Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow and Iran specialist, outlines Iran’s leadership crisis and five possible post-Khamenei paths. He highlights rising monarchist sentiment, protesters’ focus on everyday freedoms, and how foreign models shape elite thinking. The conversation also touches on U.S. policy options and risks amid unrest.
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Elites Look To Nearby Models
- Iran's elites primarily consider models like China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia when imagining survival strategies.
- Sadjadpour doubts a broad internal embrace of pluralism among Revolutionary Guard leadership.
Leadership Shapes Iran's Future
- Individual leaders profoundly shape Middle Eastern history, making personality-driven outcomes likely.
- Sadjadpour notes Iran's political culture has produced only four rulers over a century, favoring strongmen.
Beware Overconfident Regime-Change Plans
- Avoid assuming the U.S. can broker a neat successor deal inside Iran without deep on-the-ground knowledge.
- Sadjadpour urges caution because U.S. intelligence and inroads into Iran remain weak.
