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The Iran Breakdown with Mark Dubowitz

FDD
Iran
Israel
United States
Islamic Republic Of Iran
Hezbollah
Hamas
Nuclear Weapons
Middle East
12-Day War
U.s.-Israel Relations
Women Life Freedom Movement
Trump Administration
US Foreign Policy
Nuclear Program
JCPOA
FDD
Human Rights Violations
Terrorism
Strait Of Hormuz
IRAN International

Welcome to The Iran Breakdown. Hosted by Mark Dubowitz, this show 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, development of a massive missile and drove arsenal, funding of terror groups like Hez... more

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Artwork for The Iran Breakdown

Latest Episodes

Japan occupies a unique position: a close ally of the United States, a strong partner of Israel, and a longtime diplomatic interlocutor with Tehran.

In this episode of The Iran Breakdown, Japan’s Ambassador to Israel, Yusuke Arai, offers a rare pers... more

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To understand the war unfolding with Iran today — and where it could lead — you have to understand the history that brought the Middle East to this moment.

In this episode of The Iran Breakdown, Mark Dubowitz sits down with acclaimed historian Simon... more

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Elliot Kaufman and Yonah Jeremy Bob are the co-authors of the new book, In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis – an inside account of the decisions, debates, and personalities that shaped Israel’s multi... more

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The Islamic Republic may discover that surviving the war was the easy part. Its military has been mauled, its deterrence shattered, its proxies weakened, and now an already dysfunctional economy faces relentless pressure — with no victory to rally ar... more

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Recent Guests

Yusuke Arai
Ambassador of Japan to the State of Israel
Government of Japan (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Episode: The Iran Dilemma: A View from Tokyo and Jerusalem
Simon Sebag Montefore
Historian and author
Historian, Professor-level author
Episode: Inside The Cauldron: Iran, America, Israel, and the End of Khomeinism
Elliott Kaufman
Editorial writer and Wall Street Journal editorial board member focusing on Israel and Iran
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis (feat. Yonah Jeremy Bob & Elliot Kaufman)
Yonah Jeremy Bob
Senior military analyst, Jerusalem Post, author of Target Tehran
Jerusalem Post
Episode: In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis (feat. Yonah Jeremy Bob & Elliot Kaufman)
Stephen Cook
Expert on the Middle East and Turkey
Episode: After Iran: Is Erdogan’s Turkey the Middle East’s Next Great Threat? (feat. Steven A. Cook and Jonathan Schanzer)
Jonathan Schanzer
Analyst on Middle East affairs and former staffer at a government agency
Episode: After Iran: Is Erdogan’s Turkey the Middle East’s Next Great Threat? (feat. Steven A. Cook and Jonathan Schanzer)
Rich Goldberg
Expert on Iran sanctions and energy policy
National Energy Dominance Council, White House
Episode: Energy Wars: America, Iran and the Battle of Hormuz (feat. Rich Goldberg)
Haviv Rettig Gur
Israeli public intellectual and host of Ask Haviv Anything
Ask Haviv Anything podcast
Episode: The Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary DNA (feat. Haviv Rettig Gur)
Yadin Soffer
Co-founder and CEO of Tracer
Tracer
Episode: Subterranean Warfare: Can Pickaxe Mountain Be Destroyed? (feat. Yadin Soffer)

Host

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

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 208 ratings
  • Exceptional

    Absolutely essential podcast. Very informative and intelligent

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Petco3
    United States2 months ago
  • Awesome podcast

    This is one of my 2 favourite podcasts on the Iran War. Mark is such an insightful commentator with best speaking voice and his guest commentators are fabulous especially Rich Goldberg

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kslewis55
    Australia3 months ago
  • Great accurate information

    Appreciate the outstanding information and accurate data about this conflict. Appreciate the effort in discussing a complex and important foreign policy issue.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TomB333@
    United States3 months ago
  • Right to the point

    Thank you Mark. I am impressed how you n your guest are aware of Iran n it’s situation.

    We all Iranians got sick of fake news n propaganda.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sepideh2019
    United States5 months ago
  • 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 States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Insightful analysis that cuts through noise with credible guests.
High-quality policy-focused episodes on Iran and regional security.
Shows tangible impact on understanding complex geopolitical dynamics.
Guests bring deep expertise on energy, sanctions, and diplomacy.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Iran Dilemma: A View from Tokyo and Jerusalem
Q: How does Japan assess the argument that diplomacy with Iran, such as the JCPOA, must be accompanied by credible deterrence and the potential use of military force?
Arai says Japan does not oppose deterrence or the use of military pressure when necessary, and emphasizes a balanced approach that combines deterrence with diplomacy. He cites North Korea as a precedent where credible pressure alongside dialogue is essential, and he stresses alliance cohesion and multilateral coordination to avoid fissures that adversaries could exploit.
The Iran Dilemma: A View from Tokyo and Jerusalem
Q: You've therefore had the opportunity to really look at Iran, first from Tokyo and from Israel. I want to ask you, having spent your tenure now in Israel for a couple of years, how does the Iranian challenge look differently to you from Israel than it did from Tokyo?
Ambassador Arai explains that from Tokyo Iran is seen alongside other regional challenges like North Korea, China, and Russia, whereas in Israel it's the major existential security threat with a focus on nuclear, missiles, and proxies. He notes his experience in Israel has deepened emphasis on security and pro-Israel considerations, while Tokyo emphasizes diplomacy, nonproliferation norms, and regional stability given Japan's broader Indo-Pacific priorities.
Pickaxe Mountain: Iran’s “Unbustable” Nuclear Bunker? (feat. Andrea Stricker)
Q: What are the main options discussed for addressing Pickaxe Mountain, and which are considered viable?
Options include targeted air strikes on tunnel entrances, deep-strike penetrators to disrupt underground access, sealing entrances to deny access, possible ground raids under high risk, and more controversial notions like a tactical nuclear or chemical measure; among these, three are viewed as more viable with significant caveats about effectiveness and escalation risk.
Pickaxe Mountain: Iran’s “Unbustable” Nuclear Bunker? (feat. Andrea Stricker)
Q: What has been the impact of past Israeli and US strikes on Iran's nuclear capabilities?
The strikes have degraded Iran's weaponization capabilities, destroyed or damaged a large portion of its enrichment and conversion infrastructure, and disrupted the supply of weapons-usable materials, though some remnants and advanced centrifuges could potentially be recovered, delaying but not eliminating a future reconstitution.
Pickaxe Mountain: Iran’s “Unbustable” Nuclear Bunker? (feat. Andrea Stricker)
Q: Why is Pickaxe Mountain considered a critical site for Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions?
Because it is envisioned as a deeply buried complex capable of housing enrichment, weaponization work, and related activities, potentially making it harder to detect and destroy, and thus representing a long-term pathway to a nuclear breakout if reconstituted.

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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?

A policy-focused geopolitics podcast that examines Iran, its nuclear program, regional influence, and the broader Middle East through expert analysis and timely diplomacy-driven debate. Episodes frequently feature policy wonks, former officials, and regional specialists who dissect sanctions, deterrence, diplomacy, and energy security, often connecting Iran's internal dynamics to global markets and alliance structures. Notably, the show blends historical context with forward-looking strategy, including discusses of scenario planning, counterfactuals, and practical policy options for governments and allies. It's probably especially compelling for listeners who want sharp, data-informed takes on Iran, US strategy, and the Gulf region, with a ... 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. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
3. Ask Haviv Anything
4. Ark News Daily
5. The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

How many episodes of The Iran Breakdown are there?

The Iran Breakdown launched 2 years ago and published 71 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. Yusuke Arai
2. Simon Sebag Montefore
3. Elliott Kaufman
4. Yonah Jeremy Bob
5. Stephen Cook
6. Jonathan Schanzer
7. Rich Goldberg
8. Haviv Rettig Gur

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