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The Iran Breakdown with Mark Dubowitz

FDD
Iran
Israel
Nuclear Weapons
Hezbollah
Hamas
Middle East
Islamic Republic Of Iran
United States
U.s.-Israel Relations
JCPOA
Iran Nuclear Deal
Human Rights
Trump Administration
Women Life Freedom Movement
Masih Alinejad
Women's Rights
Iran Nuclear Policy
Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action
US Foreign Policy
Mykonos Murders

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

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Artwork for The Iran Breakdown

Latest Episodes

For years, Washington has leaned on sanctions to contain Iran’s most dangerous capabilities.

Tehran’s drone and missile programs didn’t just survive under pressure, they adapted, scaled, and in many ways thrived, fueled in part by Western-made compo... more

YouTube

This war isn’t just being fought with missiles and drones. There's also a war of the words, a narrative battle.

While the regime pushes its narrative at home and abroad, the West struggles to keep up — and the Iranian people are caught in between. ... more

YouTube

On the battlefield, the Iran war is expanding, and the real negotiations aren’t happening in backchannels — they’re happening in the Strait of Hormuz. 

The Iran war isn’t just about Iran. It’s about energy, leverage, and whether Beijing—and even Tai... more

YouTube

We’re marking one year of The Iran Breakdown by bringing you a special conversation from our sister FDD podcast.

In this episode of Foreign Podicy, host Cliff May sits down with Mark Dubowitz to unpack a question at the core of this show: what the I... more

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Recent Guests

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
Eli Lake
Senior fellow, author, longtime analyst on Iran and the Middle East
The Free Press
Episode: Trump’s Iran Gamble: Operation Epic Fury and Death to the Dictator (feat. Eli Lake)
Edmund Fitton-Brown
Former British Ambassador to Yemen, veteran diplomat with deep experience in the Middle East and former coordinator of the UN team responsible for monitoring sanctions on ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: The Islamic Republic's Weaponization of Global Terror (feat. Edmund Fitton-Brown)
Behnam Ben Taleblu
FDD colleague and expert on Iranian affairs
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: 48 Hours in Iran (feat. Behnam Ben Taleblu)
Rich Goldberg
Former Trump administration official and expert on Iran
FDD
Episode: In the Eye of the Storm (feat. Rich Goldberg)

Host

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

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 126 ratings
  • Lame

    This show parrots right wing Zionist talking points. No clear critical thinking applied to any of it. Trash program. Get a new gig

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Okaybuddddddyyyyy
    United Statesa month ago
  • Void of Independent Thought

    Pretty void of critical thinking. The parroting of Republican talking points and the labeling of antisemitism to valid criticism of Israel is getting tired.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JForreal90
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great guests and analysis

    2025 and 2026 are big years on Iran issue. Diverse group of Iranian, American, Israeli and European guests help make sense of it all.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Todis2026
    United States2 months ago
  • Great updates on Iran

    Very practical show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wellgaveitatry
    United States2 months ago
  • Look at his last name

    Obvious propaganda is extremely obvious

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VietSchlong
    United States9 months 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. The Iran Podcast
2. FDD Morning Brief
3. Epic Fury: The US-Iran War Podcast
4. School of War
5. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

How many episodes of The Iran Breakdown are there?

The Iran Breakdown launched a year ago and published 48 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. Kerri Bitsoff
2. Ali Ansari
3. Matt Pottinger
4. Mark Dubowitz
5. Reuel Marc Gerecht
6. Eli Lake
7. Edmund Fitton-Brown
8. Behnam Ben Taleblu

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