Novara Live

Abby Martin, journalist and filmmaker behind The Empire Files and the documentary 'Earth's Greatest Enemy', joins to unpack escalating strikes on Iran and Trump's threats to its power and desalination plants. They explore risks of a ground invasion, the environmental toll of military action, oil chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, and how geopolitics, NATO and multipolarity shape the conflict.

Stephen Methven, reporting from Havana on the Cuban blockade and the Nuestra America convoy. Banseka Kayembe, commentator on youth wellbeing and the World Happiness Report. Robert Malley, seasoned diplomat on Iran negotiations and nuclear policy. They discuss Trump’s 10-day ultimatum to Iran and military risks. They explore why English-speaking youth report falling happiness. They report on Cuba’s blockade and humanitarian strains.

As Trump repeatedly tries to draw the UK into the war on Iran, Aaron Bastani catches up with Angus Hanton, author of ‘Vassal State: How America Runs Britain’.

Curtis Daly, left-wing commentator and founder of Turn Left Media, joins to unpack tensions over Trump’s attack on NATO and the US campaign toward Iran. He debates NATO burden-sharing, regional escalation risks and how political messaging shapes military commitments. They also tackle policing controversies, privatisation’s costs and recent rulings on big tech harms.

Professor Sina Azodi, director of Middle East Studies at GWU and author on Iran’s nuclear strategy, joins to explain Iran’s threshold approach to nukes. He discusses the roots of Iran’s enrichment choices, why the JCPOA mattered to Tehran, and how recent moves changed deterrence dynamics. The conversation also covers Western misreadings and the political leverage shaping negotiations.

Angus Hanton, author and economist (author of Vassal State), discusses UK fiscal limits and bond market pressures. Short takes cover risks from rising interest rates and how war-driven energy shocks shape policy. They also debate Britain’s alignment with the US amid a shifting multipolar world and the politics behind recent Iran mediation rumours.

Hooman Majd, an American–Iranian journalist and author who has translated for Iranian presidents, discusses Trump’s Iran bluster and why claims of last‑minute calls seem unlikely. He explores why attacks were probably called off, what Iran would seek in any deal, possible endgame scenarios, regional intelligence links, and the regime’s likely crackdown.

Hooman Majd, Iranian-American journalist and author and former translator for visiting Iranian presidents, joins to unpack recent US-Iran tensions. He questions claims of backchannel deals and explains why Iran would resist letting a US leader save face. Discussion covers potential deal terms, sanctions relief, and the wider regional escalation around missile strikes and strikes on nuclear sites.

Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, analyst and CEO of Bourse & Bazaar who studies Iran's political economy, explains why US plans to seize Kharg Island may misjudge Iran. He discusses Iran's economic resilience, the impact of targeting energy and logistics hubs, cheap drones changing the battlefield, and global supply chain ripple effects.

Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, policy analyst and CEO focused on Iran and energy geopolitics, speaks on Iran’s economic resilience and misconceptions about its oil dependency. He explains why cheap drones sustain Iran’s campaign. He outlines trade-offs of a war economy and the global fallout if Gulf infrastructure is damaged.