The Iran Podcast

Negar Mortazavi speaks to NPR-WAMU about U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva.It was just a few week ago that the U.S. and Iran appeared close to military confrontation.That was after protests in Iran led President Donald Trump to say the country’s religious leaders should stop killing demonstrators and pursuing nuclear weapons. U.S. military buildup in the region has continued.Representatives for both countries met in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday for a second round of negotiations. And the message out of that three-hour meeting from both sides was generally positive. But where do talks go from here and what would a U.S.-Iran agreement cover?https://the1a.org/segments/the-second-round-of-us-iran-talks/

Iranians are once again protesting. In cities and towns across Iran, people have poured into the streets driven by economic despair and a desire for structural political change. As the 47th anniversary of 1979 Iranian Revolution approaches, serious questions exist about the future of the Islamic Republic. Is this the beginning of the end for Iran’s clerical authoritarian regime? Can the Iranian regime survive this existential moment? How should the international community respond? Panel discussion hosted in January 2026 at Georgetown University, chaired by Professor Nader Hashemi, with speakers Negar Mortazavi and Daniel Brumberg.Watch the video of this panel HERE.

Live briefing on January 13, 2026 chaired by Ilan Goldenberg, Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at J Street, examined the current state of the protests in Iran, how President Trump’s threats of intervention are being perceived inside Iran, and the policy options currently available to the United States.-Nate Swanson, director of Iran Strategy Project at the Atlantic Council and former Director for Iran at the National Security Council.-Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and editor and host of The Iran Podcast.https://open.substack.com/pub/jstreetdotorg/p/video-briefing-is-irans-regime-on?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Negar Mortazavi joins a France 24 panel on Iran protests, the violent and the deadly crackdown, and the path ahead.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with NPR about U.S.-Iran talks scheduled in Istanbul (then moved to Oman).Broadcast on 3 February 2026: https://the1a.org/segments/what-steve-witkoff-wants-from-iran/

Negar Mortazavi, a senior fellow focused on Iranian politics and U.S.-Iran relations. She outlines how the nuclear program is the starting point for talks. She highlights mixed U.S. signals and whether Iran is testing American resolve. She describes regional mediation efforts and why negotiations moved to Oman. She warns the outcome could tilt toward diplomacy or conflict.

Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow and analyst of Iranian politics and diplomacy, joins BBC conversations. She breaks down stalled diplomacy, shifting U.S. demands, and recent attacks. She explains military buildups, Tehran’s warnings, and the domestic crackdown after protests. She maps how Iran, though constrained, can still inflict regional damage and raise the risk of wider conflict.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to France24 about US-Iran standoff in the Middle East and how war can unleash chaos across the region.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with AlArabiya

A conversation about mass protests in Iran and how internet limits shape reporting. Discussion of the scale of unrest, arrests, and a looming legitimacy crisis. Examination of mixed U.S. signals, military moves, and whether Trump seeks a major diplomatic bargain. Exploration of shifting U.S. demands that complicate any potential deal.