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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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes58Foundeda year ago
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PoliticsNews CommentaryNews

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Artwork for The Iran Breakdown

Latest Episodes

The clock is ticking on the Islamic Republic — but what does finishing the job actually look like? With the regime battered, broken, and the pressure campaign at a critical inflection point, the U.S. faces a defining choice: double down or negotiate ... more

The Islamic Republic played one of the few cards it had left: the Strait of Hormuz. How did military planners prepare for this moment? Was a closure inevitable? If the U.S. and Israel had not confronted the Islamic Republic, where would we be today? ... more

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Every Iranian revolution begins with an ordinary life hitting an extraordinary wall. Stolen Revolution captures those moments — the personal reckonings with a regime that promised faith and delivered suffocation. Co-authored by award-winning journali... more

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A deal has been struck. The Strait of Hormuz is reopening. Iran's nuclear program is — allegedly — being curtailed. And sanctions relief is on the way. But what did the United States actually get? What did the Islamic Republic walk away with? And doe... 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)
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)

Hosts

Mark Dubowitz
President of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD); long-time host of the Iran-focused series with policy leadership on Iran strategy and sanctions.
Jonathan Schanzer
Host, Executive Director at FDD; senior policy analyst with a focus on Middle East security and Iran policy.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 164 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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 States2 months 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 States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews suggest a strong, provocative stance that may feel biased to some listeners.
The format consistently delivers high-profile expert guests and in-depth discussions.
Insightful analyses that cut through noise on Hormuz and Iran policy.
Guests bring deep expertise across policy, media, and security.

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?

The program centers on high-stakes geopolitics surrounding Iran, its nuclear ambitions, sanctions pressure, and regional power dynamics. Across episodes, listeners get strategic analyses of Hormuz, sanctions enforcement, information warfare, and the evolving U.S.-Israel-Saudi posture, with historians, former officials, and policy scholars offering historical context and scenario planning. Notably, the show often blends rigorous policy critique with actionable implications for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and journalists covering the region, making it a dense, fact-focused resource for understanding how coercive diplomacy, military posture, and economic pressure interact in the Iran issue. A distinctive throughline is the examination... 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. Ask Haviv Anything
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 58 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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