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The Iran Breakdown with Mark Dubowitz

FDD
Iran
Israel
Hezbollah
Islamic Republic Of Iran
United States
Hamas
Nuclear Weapons
Middle East
12-Day War
U.s.-Israel Relations
Women Life Freedom Movement
Trump Administration
US Foreign Policy
Nuclear Program
FDD
Human Rights Violations
Terrorism
Iran International
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Houthis

Welcome to the Iran Breakdown. Hosted by Mark Dubowitz, this miniseries from FDD is here to guide you through one of the most critical geopolitical and human rights challenges facing the world today.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has been a central player in global headlines for decades: its pursuit of nuclear weapons, funding of terror groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and others; its opp... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes54Foundeda year ago
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NewsNews CommentaryPolitics

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Artwork for The Iran Breakdown

Latest Episodes

Is the U.S.-Iran ceasefire built to last? While the bombs have stopped, the strategic Battle for Hormuz continues to threaten global stability. In this episode of The Iran Breakdown, FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz is joined by Aaron MacLean — CBS News nationa... more

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In this special solo episode of The Iran Breakdown, FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz pushes back hard on the narrative that America is losing the war with the Islamic Republic. Step by step, he makes the case that Tehran has just suffered the most severe strate... more

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Riyadh is pressing Washington with a blunt message: don't leave the job half-finished.

Saudi Arabia publicly condemned the strikes — and privately urged Trump to launch them. Now MBS faces the question he's long telegraphed: if Iran gets a bomb, the... more

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No tanks. No invasion. No march on Tehran.

Instead: a methodical campaign to dismantle Iran’s war machine — missiles, drones, command networks, and the economy keeping it all alive.

But can you break a regime by breaking the system that sustains it... more

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Recent Guests

Aaron MacLean
Host of The School of War; CBS News National Security Analyst; columnist for The Free Press; Marine veteran
The School of War; CBS News; The Free Press
Episode: The Iran Ceasefire Didn't End the Battle for Hormuz (feat. Aaron MacLean)
Bernard Haykel
Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University; senior fellow at FDD; author and editor on Wahhabi movements and Middle East politics
Princeton University; Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: The Door Tehran Kicked Open: MBS, The Bomb, and The Battle for The Gulf (feat. Bernard Haykel)
John Spencer
Executive Director of the Urban Warfare Institute; former army officer and combat veteran
Urban Warfare Institute
Episode: No March on Tehran: The Military Logic of the Iran War (feat. John Spencer)
Negar Mojtahedi
Journalist; executive editor at Iran International
Iran International
Episode: Regime Revisionism: Tehran's War Before the Iran War (feat. Jay Solomon & Negar Mojtahedi)
Kerri Bitsoff
Former Treasury OFAC official who targeted Iran's drones, missiles, and related procurement networks
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), U.S. Department of the Treasury
Episode: Iran's Global Game of Drones (& How To Stockpile While Sanctioned) (feat. Kerri Bitsoff)
Ali Ansari
World-renowned historian, Professor of Iranian history
University of St. Andrews, Institute for Iranian Studies
Episode: War of the Words in Iran (feat. Ali Ansari)
Matt Pottinger
FDD colleague, chairs FDD's China program; former deputy national security adviser to the White House
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: From Tehran to Taipei: How the Iran War Reshapes China’s Taiwan Calculus (feat. Matt Pottinger)
Mark Dubowitz
President of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FD), guest on this episode
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Episode: Breaking Down The Islamic Republic (Cliff May feat. Mark Dubowitz)
Reuel Marc Gerecht
Resident scholar, FDD; former CIA Iran Targets Officer
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: Cracking The Regime (feat. Ray Takeyh and Reuel Marc Gerecht)

Host

Mark Dubowitz
Host of The Iran Breakdown, affiliated with Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 142 ratings
  • Aaron MacLean is great!

    Awesome Episode with Aaron MacLean. Great to hear him answering questions and his thoughts on the war. He is such a jewel and someone that really gives hope for America and her allies.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ErBG2
    United States4 days ago
  • Great for following events in Iran

    This is excellent and insightful analysis that cuts through the political commentariat noise.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DRockAg04
    United States14 days ago
  • Bernard Haykel episode

    Super insightful as to the inner workings of Saudi Arabia and the thought processes of MBS. Highly recommend for Saudi followers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OBSCOM
    United States20 days ago
  • Biased Podcast

    I wanted to learn more about the situation in the Middle East. I wanted facts and analytical thinking. Even though this podcast is heavily right leaning I gave it a shot. When ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ was brought up seriously I decided to unfollow.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    wtaww
    United States24 days ago
  • Best analysis on Iran

    Fantastic commentary from Mark Dubowitz and his incredibly knowledgeable guests who really understand what is happening in Iran and its history.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dentist-NY
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is perceived as a rigorous, timely, and honest take on complicated geopolitical issues.
Listeners appreciate in-depth discussions with experts who have real-world policy experience.
The host provides clear, practical insights into sanctions, diplomacy, and human rights.
Thoughtful and well-sourced analysis of Iran and regional dynamics.
High-quality guests and candid policy discussions that are valuable for listeners involved in policy, journalism, or academia.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

War of the Words in Iran (feat. Ali Ansari)
Q: What role do ordinary Iranians play in this narrative, and how do external audiences misread them?
Most Iranians are not fully aligned with the regime's revolutionary messaging and many are focused on practical needs; outsiders often rely on accessible, dramatic political signals rather than engaging with the everyday realities and sentiments of Iranians on the ground.
War of the Words in Iran (feat. Ali Ansari)
Q: Give us a sense of how narratives shape the regime's legitimacy and what that means for the West.
Narratives are used to frame the regime as a defiant, morally righteous actor, but they increasingly diverge from reality, especially as economic and social grievances grow; the West often focuses on security metrics and misses the deeper change happening among Iranians who seek normal life and accountability.
Iran's Global Game of Drones (& How To Stockpile While Sanctioned) (feat. Kerri Bitsoff)
Q: So Kerri, what did you bring to the fight? What were you specifically responsible for when it came to Iran's drone and missile program?
Bitsoff explains she worked on degrading procurement networks, focusing on disrupting the parts and components Iran needed, and used sanctions to raise costs and delay or degrade production.
From Tehran to Taipei: How the Iran War Reshapes China’s Taiwan Calculus (feat. Matt Pottinger)
Q: What should Taiwan learn from Ukraine and Israel regarding defense and resilience?
Taiwan should emulate the Ukraine-Israel model of resilience and asymmetric capabilities, develop a robust reserve system, and seek non-American partnerships for drone warfare and air defense to deter amphibious invasion.
From Tehran to Taipei: How the Iran War Reshapes China’s Taiwan Calculus (feat. Matt Pottinger)
Q: Any surprises in the past weeks of this war?
The war's dynamics are ongoing, with the regime pursuing nuclear ambitions and continuing to threaten shipping; the de-escalation is uncertain and diplomacy is not a pause for the fighting to stop, but rather a negotiation context tied to battlefield outcomes.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Iran Breakdown

What is The Iran Breakdown about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This miniseries focuses on Iran's nuclear ambitions, its regional proxy networks, and internal human rights dynamics, frequently featuring seasoned policymakers, analysts, and journalists with deep experience in Middle East geopolitics. Episodes orbit Iran's international alignments (China, Russia, and regional partners), U.S. foreign policy options, sanctions regimes, and the regime's domestic legitimacy challenges, including protests and human rights concerns. Unique strengths include access to high-profile experts from defense and policy think tanks, candid assessments of regime strategies, and pragmatic policy recommendations. Listeners are likely engaged in international affairs, national security, or policy research, and may be seekin... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Iran Breakdown?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Iran Breakdown:

1. FDD Morning Brief
2. Epic Fury: The US-Iran War Podcast
3. School of War
4. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
5. What's Your Number?

How many episodes of The Iran Breakdown are there?

The Iran Breakdown launched a year ago and published 54 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 The Iran Breakdown?

Recent guests on The Iran Breakdown include:

1. Aaron MacLean
2. Bernard Haykel
3. John Spencer
4. Negar Mojtahedi
5. Kerri Bitsoff
6. Ali Ansari
7. Matt Pottinger
8. Mark Dubowitz

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