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On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

AL-Monitor
Iran
Turkey
Syria
Israel
Middle East
United States
Saudi Arabia
Gaza
Hamas
Russia
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
PKK
Ahmed Al-Sharah
Hezbollah
Masoud Pezeshkian
Kurds
Donald Trump
ISIS
Kurdish Rights
Abdullah Öcalan

AL-Monitor Senior Correspondent Amberin Zaman interviews newsmakers, journalists, and thought leaders from the US and Middle East about the latest news and trends in the region. Amberin travels the region for AL-Monitor, specializing in news and analysis in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and the Caucasus and writes the weekly Turkey Briefing newsletter. Prior to AL-Monitor, she covered Turkey, the Kurds, an... more

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Artwork for On the Middle East

Latest Episodes

Somalia is home to Turkey’s largest overseas military base. It has signed an oil exploration and production deal with Ankara that has sparked protests from the opposition. The Middle East Institute’s Gonul Tol unpacks the drivers of Turkey’s Africa p... more

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Kurds in northeast Syria have suffered significant territorial and political setbacks, while Kurds in Turkey continue to lack meaningful rights. A growing number of Kurdish voices are blaming the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and its imprisoned leade... more

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With no resolution in sight, the conflict is taking a heavy toll on Saudi Arabia amid widening fissures with its Gulf neighbor the United Arab Emirates.

See Privacy Policy at art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at art19.c... more

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The Iran conflict is entering its second month with no resolution, despite a ceasefire extension announced by the United States on April 8.

Iranian negotiators follow Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, says academic Hassan Ahmadian, warning ... more

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Recent Guests

Gonul Tol
Director of the Middle East Institute's Turkey Programme
Middle East Institute
Episode: Turkey's outsize influence in Somalia fuels corruption and autocracy, says MEI's Gonul Tol
Michael Ratney
Former United States ambassador to Riyadh; non-resident senior advisor at CSIS
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: Saudi Arabia hates Iran’s regime but did not want war, says former US ambassador to Riyadh Michael Ratney
Ghassan Salame
Lebanon's Minister of Culture
Lebanese Government
Episode: Lebanon’s Ghassan Salame: Israel talks ‘not negotiations,’ Hezbollah disarmament by force ‘illusion’
Yevgeniya Gaber
Senior fellow at the Atlantic Council specializing in Turkey and Black Sea security
Atlantic Council
Episode: Ukraine is becoming the Gulf's new shield against Iran, says Yevgeniya Gaber
Skylar Thompson
Deputy Director of Human Rights Activists in Iran
Human Rights Activists in Iran
Episode: Iranian children make up 15% of civilians killed since US, Israel launched war, rights monitor says
Nicole Grajewski
Iranian American professor at Sciences Po University, Paris
Sciences Po University
Episode: Friends with some benefits: Why Russia cannot overtly support Iran
Asso Hassan Zadeh
Prominent member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
Episode: Partnership between Trump, Iran's Kurds still on agenda, says KDPI's Asso Hassan Zadeh
Christopher de Bellaige
Historian and author of several books on Iran
The Economist
Episode: As violent protests continue to rock Iran, survival of country's long-reigning clerical regime has never looked as vulnerable
Elizabeth Tsurkov
A leading scholar on the Levant, expert in Syrian affairs.
Episode: Why US pressure may finally force Israel into striking Syria security deal

Host

Amberin Zaman
Host of the show

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 72 ratings
  • Pathetic Iran Apologists

    What a clown show. Zaman and the moderator are despicable. They whine over 1500 alleged deaths in Iran and are indifferent to 35,000 brutal murders by the Iranian Government . The intellectual dishonesty is beyond sick. They would much prefer the brutality of the IRGC and Mullahs that have an opportunity for freedom. This propaganda podcast was just sick.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jim from Silicon Valley
    United States2 months ago
  • Shameful Vali Nasir Iran apologists

    Love the show but getting Vali Nasr’s take on Iran is one step away from the regime. He’s a well know Iranian regime apologist who unwilling to admit Iran is a state sponsor of terror. Refused to finish episode when he grossly distorted the impacts to Israel and Iran. Love the show but couldnt get much worse than Nasr on Iran.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Maddie445
    United Statesa year ago
  • Israeli Hammas war

    Excellent episode just showing the depth of feeling and distance between Arab and Israeli views on the crisis.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Crimebrook
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Wonderful and articulate, this podcast brings various characters that provide intellectual insight behind the news. Highly recommend.

    Audible
    5
    Yousef
    United States3 years ago
  • Wonderful and Articulate

    Wonderful and articulate, this podcast brings various characters that provide intellectual insight behind the news. Highly recommend.

    Audible
    5
    Yousef
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Balanced, nuanced coverage praised by listeners.
Some criticisms focus on perceived bias in Iran-related discussions.
High-quality guests and professional reporting are commonly noted.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#198
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#204
Indonesia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Saudi Arabia hates Iran’s regime but did not want war, says former US ambassador to Riyadh Michael Ratney
Q: How is Saudi Arabia reacting to the UAE breaking ranks with OPEC and aligning more with Israel and the Trump administration?
Saudi Arabia is cautious, weighing its options within the GCC, concerned about public opinion at home, and wary of taking steps that could provoke Iranian retaliation while seeking to maintain regional influence and economic reform momentum.
Saudi Arabia hates Iran’s regime but did not want war, says former US ambassador to Riyadh Michael Ratney
Q: Let's just go straight to the point and address the question of whether Saudi Arabia wants regime change in Iran or not.
The Saudis have no love for the Iranian regime and are wary of escalation, but they prefer de-escalation and a future where Iran is not able to threaten regional stability or control critical energy routes.
Ukraine is becoming the Gulf's new shield against Iran, says Yevgeniya Gaber
Q: Because he was in Qatar, he was in Saudi Arabia, he was in the UAE, but he also traveled to Syria and before that was in Turkey. Was that also about drone technology?
Yes, it was about defense cooperation and long-term strategic partnerships, including drones and broader regional diplomacy.
Ukraine is becoming the Gulf's new shield against Iran, says Yevgeniya Gaber
Q: So President Zelenskyy, of course, was also in Syria. And I assume it was for the same reason. Could you tell us a bit more about his trip to Damascus?
The guest describes the defense cooperation and growing regional security ties, illustrating how Ukraine is leveraging its wartime experience to build influence with Syria, Turkey, and other Gulf states.
Ukraine is becoming the Gulf's new shield against Iran, says Yevgeniya Gaber
Q: Can you tell us a little bit more about all of this?
The guest explains Ukraine's transition from a recipient of support to a security provider, highlighting its combat-tested anti-drone capabilities, diplomatic outreach to Gulf states, and the potential for long-term security arrangements and regional collaboration.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About On the Middle East

What is On the Middle East about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently explores Middle East politics, security, and regional power dynamics through in-depth interviews with a mix of policymakers, scholars, journalists, and think-tank analysts. Episodes often dissect regional flashpoints—Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Syria, and Kurdish politics—while tracing wider implications for governance, diplomacy, and civilian impact. A notable strength is the willingness to blend historical context with current events, drawing on guests who offer both on-the-ground reporting and strategic analysis, which yields nuanced, multi-perspective takes for listeners who want a clearer read on complex regional issues. The format appears to favor independent analysis and credible expertise, making it app... more

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1. Middle East Focus
2. The AL-Monitor Brief
3. Hold Your Fire!
4. Foreign Policy Live
5. The Foreign Affairs Interview

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On the Middle East launched 6 years ago and published 246 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on On the Middle East?

Recent guests on On the Middle East include:

1. Gonul Tol
2. Michael Ratney
3. Ghassan Salame
4. Yevgeniya Gaber
5. Skylar Thompson
6. Nicole Grajewski
7. Asso Hassan Zadeh
8. Christopher de Bellaige

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