MBN Iran Podcast Briefing

In this edition of the MBN Iran Briefing podcast Andres Ilves joined by Ken Pollack, Vice President for Policy at the Middle East Institute, as we take up whether the U.S. deterrence strategy regarding Iran has succeeded or failed, how Iran built its own deterrent around the Strait of Hormuz and its regional proxies, and what regime change could realistically look like now that the initial window has closed. Ken also tells me the three things that keep him up at night and why his thinking changed after the pivotal day of March 17, 2000.


What is MBN Iran Podcast Briefing ?

The war around Iran is no longer confined to the battlefield—it is rapidly spilling into global markets, energy supplies, and regional stability. In today’s Iran Briefing podcast, three MBN senior voices unpack the latest developments: Iran’s new leadership doubling down on escalation, attacks spreading across the Gulf, and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. With tanker traffic collapsing and oil prices surging above $100 amid the conflict, the conversation looks at how this crisis could reshape Gulf economies, global trade, and the geopolitical balance far beyond the region.