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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
Iran International
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

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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Latest Episodes

The next battlefield isn’t in the sky or at sea—it’s underground.

The Islamic Republic, together with Hamas and Hezbollah, spent decades building a subterranean fortress: hundreds of miles of terror tunnels beneath Gaza and Lebanon, and deeply burie... more

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Iran isn’t dismantling its nuclear program—it’s burying it deeper underground.

At the center of growing U.S. concern is Pickaxe Mountain, a massive underground complex that signals the regime has no intention of abandoning its nuclear ambitions. Bur... more

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The United States has launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iran, hitting roughly 90 targets along the country's coastline, as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz threaten to unravel a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. With diplomati... more

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The Israel-Lebanon framework brokered by Secretary Rubio may be historic, but Hezbollah still hasn't disarmed. The deal ties Israeli withdrawal to the Lebanese army securing designated pilot zones — yet Hezbollah and its parliamentary allies have alr... more

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Recent Guests

Andrea Stricker
Nuclear nonproliferation expert
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: Pickaxe Mountain: Iran’s “Unbustable” Nuclear Bunker? (feat. Andrea Stricker)
Rich Goldberg
Guest expert on Iran policy and strategy
Episode: The End of the Ceasefire as We Know It? (feat. Rich Goldberg)
Carine Hajjar
Opinion journalist at The Washington Post
The Washington Post
Episode: Lebanon: More than "a Piece of the Puzzle" (feat. Carine Hajjar)
Medhi Parpanchi
Persian-language journalist and editor with experience at BBC Persian, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Iran International TV
Iran International TV; former BBC Persian; Radio Farda
Episode: What Iranians Think About the US-Iran Deal (feat. Medhi Parpanchi)
Robert Greenway
American National Security Expert, former US Army Special Forces officer and NSC official
American Global Strategies / Heritage Foundation (as described)
Episode: Breaking Down the US-Iran MOU (feat. Robert Greenway)
Marc Thiessen
Washington Post columnist, Fox News contributor, AEI fellow
The Washington Post; American Enterprise Institute
Episode: What Does Winning In Iran Look Like? (feat. Marc Thiessen)
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin
Co-author of Stolen Revolution, Betrayal and Hope in Modern Iran
Co-author; Journalist
Episode: Stolen Revolution: Behind Iran's Protest Movements (feat. Bozorgmehr Sharafedin)
Richard Goldberg
Senior adviser, FDD; senior director for energy economics and security program
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: The Iran Deal - What Trump Got, What Iran Got, and What Comes Next (feat. Richard Goldberg)
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)

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 185 ratings
  • 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
    Australiaa month 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 Statesa month 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 States3 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 States3 months 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 States3 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.

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.
Lebanon: More than "a Piece of the Puzzle" (feat. Carine Hajjar)
Q: Carine, you had a piece in the Washington Post just recently on Lebanon, and I want you to explain the main thesis of that piece, especially in response to President Trump's comment that Lebanon is a small piece of the puzzle.
The piece argues that Lebanon is central to Iran's strategy and to the region's security dynamics, not a minor component; the U.S. and regional actors must address Lebanon's sovereignty and Hezbollah's armed status as part of any broader framework with Tehran.
The Iran Deal - What Trump Got, What Iran Got, and What Comes Next (feat. Richard Goldberg)
Q: What is exactly in this deal?
Rich explains that, based on background briefings, the initial phase aims to open the Strait of Hormuz with conditions like no military threat, the removal of mines, and a controlled oil flow, while keeping the broader sanctions framework and a potential escrow-like mechanism to manage funds; the exact language is still under wraps but the framework centers on phased concessions and verifiable steps.

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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. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
3. Ask Haviv Anything
4. Epic Fury: The US-Iran War Podcast
5. School of War

How many episodes of The Iran Breakdown are there?

The Iran Breakdown launched a year ago and published 64 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. Andrea Stricker
2. Rich Goldberg
3. Carine Hajjar
4. Medhi Parpanchi
5. Robert Greenway
6. Marc Thiessen
7. Bozorgmehr Sharafedin
8. Richard Goldberg

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