The Inside Story Podcast

Bozkurt Aran, former Turkish ambassador and regional policy director; Ali Vaez, Iran specialist and negotiator; Munir Akram, seasoned Pakistani diplomat. They debate Pakistan offering to host US-Iran talks. Conversations cover why Oman stepped back, regional economic and security costs, risks of being used, Israel's influence, and practical starting points like guarantees and Hormuz arrangements.

Michael Mulroy, former US Defense official and ex-CIA paramilitary, offers a security and military perspective. Hisham Al-Omeisy, Yemen adviser, explains Houthi motives and tactics. H A Hellyer, Middle East security analyst, unpacks militia-state ties and regional strategy. They discuss Houthi timing, threats to Red Sea shipping, risks to Israel and US forces, and potential global trade fallout.

Pavel Felgenhauer, Moscow-based defence and Russian policy analyst; Oleksiy Melnyk, Kyiv security and defence strategist; Dania Thafer, Gulf security expert in Washington. They discuss Gulf states’ rush for Ukrainian drone know-how. They explore shifting Gulf ties with Russia, risks to Ukraine from Middle East tensions, and how low-cost drone systems fit alongside expensive air-defence networks.

Nikolay Kozjharnov, energy security expert on Gulf production and transport. Torbjorn Soltvedt, risk analyst on supply chains and commodity impacts. Cornelia Meyer, macroeconomist and oil and gas specialist. They discuss how the Iran war strains Gulf energy, transport chokepoints, fertilizer and critical commodity shortages, alternate export routes, and how disruptions could ripple into global inflation and logistics.

Thomas Warrick, U.S. policy and regional military expert. Ellie Geranmayeh, Europe‑Iran policy analyst. Abas Aslani, Tehran‑based strategic researcher. They debate Iran’s public red lines and private flexibility. They parse rights to enrichment, ballistic missiles as deterrence, risks around the Strait of Hormuz, and what credible guarantees or military shifts could change positions.

Elijah Magnier, Brussels-based military and political analyst; Mehran Kamrava, Georgetown Qatar professor of Gulf politics; Foad Izadi, Tehran professor of foreign policy. They discuss Iran’s continued attacks and diplomatic moves with neighbours. The strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and options like transit control or fees. Debate on Iran’s capacity for sustained missile and drone campaigns and regional leverage.

Alex Coman, professor and economic strategist, offers analysis of Israel’s fiscal and political choices. Gideon Levy, Haaretz columnist, provides sharp critique of military-first instincts. Dan Perry, seasoned political analyst and former AP editor, explains regional and diplomatic dynamics. They debate diplomacy vs war, political calculations, defense effectiveness, and regional spillovers in short, sharp conversation.

Schools and hospitals bombed. Strikes on apartment buildings. Energy facilities targeted. And attacks on neighbouring states. Have Israel, the US, and Iran broken international law in the war, or what legal justification might they claim?  In this episode:  Geoffrey Nice, Human rights lawyer and former International Criminal Court prosecutor. Brian Finucane, Senior Adviser with the U.S. Program at International Crisis Group Nicholas Tsagourias, Professor of International Law at the University of Sheffield. Host: James Bays Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Tim Ripley, a London-based defence analyst, explains military trade-offs and security risks. Ali Vaez, Iran policy specialist, outlines regime resilience and decentralised defence. Hamidreza Gholamzadeh, Tehran analyst, discusses succession, secrecy and provincial command. They explore leadership invisibility, asymmetric tactics, risks of fragmentation and why targeting becomes harder over time.

Rockford Weitz, maritime security expert on shipping chokepoints; Khaled Batarfi, analyst of Saudi foreign policy; Farea al-Muslimi, Yemen and regional dynamics researcher. They explore Houthi control of Bab al-Mandeb and asymmetric naval threats. They discuss why Houthis may hesitate to escalate, recent US strikes and impacts on insurance, rerouting and global trade.