Live recording of The Protagonists with Adel Darwish, Joachim Hagopian on The World Today.

Iran: Boom or Bust

There has been an apparent escalation of unrest and arrests across Iran however reports of hundreds of deaths and over 10,000 arrests are impossible to verify as Iranian authorities shut down the internet - a move unsettling to many in the west. Amidst the uncertainty, President Trump warns of strong options he can take including the use of Starlink to bypass blackouts, and possible military intervention. Senator Lindsay Graham meanwhile urges the killing of regime leaders - hardly a sane intervention.

Iran has threatened US bases and now wants to talk to the US. Could this signify the regime is in trouble? One thing is clear, that 2026 has commenced badly and the US administration, egged on by deep state are destabilising an already fragile environment. This does not bode well for peace talks in Ukraine or hopes that Trump can use his formidable negotiation skills to work peacefully with China and Russia. Perhaps as some commentators suggest, the financial situation facing the US is worse than any have admitted and the US must do all it can to maintain some control and War does mean Peace?

Mike Ryan HOST

GUESTS:

Adel Alexander Darwish is a Westminster-based British political journalist, a veteran Fleet Street reporter, author, historian, broadcaster, and political commentator.Political Editor ( London Bureau Chief) World Media : M incl: The Middle East Magazine; ME News. Life style AppFabNews.com| columnist: The Tribune, Middle East Forum.

Joachim Hagopian is a West Point graduate, former Army officer and author of "Don't Let the Bastards Getcha Down". After the military, Joachim earned a master's degree in Clinical Psychology and worked as a licensed therapist. As an independent journalist for over eight years, Joachim has written hundreds of articles for many news sites, like Global Research, lewrockwell.com and The Government Rag.

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