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Borzou Daragahi

@borzou.bsky.social

342 followers 29 following 190 posts

Journalist, writer, broadcaster. borzou.substack.com

Posts Replies Media

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 9h

Activist Morad Tahbaz details his arrest in Iran and confinement inside Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. Also the death penalty in Iran and the US. borzou.substack.com/p/inside-ira...

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Inside Iran’s Machinery Of Death And Torture (S01E167)

Activist Morad Tahbaz describes his 6 years inside Tehran’s Evin Prison. Plus, the evils of the death penalty in Iran, and the US

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

NEW EPISODE: In the latest episode of badlands, Anastasiya Shapochkina and Bohdan Kostiuk of Eastern Circles join me for an interview about the three-way relationship between Russia, Iran, and the Gulf states.

borzou.substack.com

How The Gulf Plays Both Sides In The Ukraine-Russia War (S01E166)

Peace prospects hampered by Putin’s maximalist goals

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

One of the craziest stories of the year. Cops investigating a wild child kidnapping caper stumbled into an even bigger crime: alleged betrayal by Germany's longtime former spy chief. On the latest free episode of badlands. youtu.be/4WZgHFbdFaw

Germany’s Israel-Friendly Ex-Spy Chief Busted In Espionage Scandal (S01E165)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

In the latest FREE episode of badlands, I break down the case of August Hanning, Germany’s fanatically pro-Israel former intel chief and what is says about Europe’s disturbing ties to a particularly controversial country.

borzou.substack.com

Germany’s Israel-Friendly Ex-Spy Chief Busted In Espionage Scandal (S01E165)

Watch now (24 mins) | Plus, the troubling implications of the Cornell 7 case, and Trump’s suspect attempt to regulate AI

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Saudi Arabia is launching yet another massive offensive to dislodge the Houthis from Yemen, it's latest assault in an on-and-off war that has lasted more than a decade. It will likely fail. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oap6...

Why Saudi Will Likely Lose Its New War Against Houthis (S01E164)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The US has placed some of the toughest financial restrictions on Iran ever imposed on an adversary – and the sanctions continue to intensify as the conflict drags on. The pressure campaign has gone far beyond travel bans on targeted individuals or sanctions on the weapons trade or dual-use goods.

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No plane, no gain: US aviation sanctions ground ordinary Iranians while missing the regime (No. 41)

Republished from the Singapore Straits Times

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

As if the Middle East didn’t have enough troubles, as if energy markets weren’t already constrained, Saudi Arabia declared a fresh military offensive against Yemen’s Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis. youtu.be/oap62qiRmso?...

Why Saudi Will Likely Lose Its New War Against Houthis (S01E164)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Former Swedish Minister Sven Otto Littorin has spent 10 years inside Saudi Arabia’s labor ministry as an adviser to the government. In an interview, we explore Saudi reforms, social changes, and regional geopolitics as the country shifts from oil dependence to a diversified economy

borzou.substack.com

The Inside Story Of How Saudi Arabia Was Transformed (S01E163)

Plus, the latest on the FlyDubai and UK base incidents, and the military buildup in the Middle East

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Tehran tech entrepreneur Hamidreza Ahmadi joins badlands from Tehran to discuss the state of the economy inside Iran. He describes enormous pressure on ordinary Iranians, compounded by the government’s refusal to shift away from its version of neoliberal economics.

borzou.substack.com

Iran’s Economy Crushed Under Sanctions, Blockade, Mismanagement (S01E162)

Plus, the latest on the UK ‘attack,’ the Dubai ‘hijacking’, and Turkey’s financial scandal

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the mental gyrations and conniving cynicism of “neocon lite,” elites depraved enough to lust after another war that leads to more dead brown people, but clever enough to cloak their unfettered bloodlust in platitudes about “competence” and “process.”

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Neocons Still Lusting After Iran War ‘Wins’ (S01E161)

Plus, Ilkan Dalkuc on the stock market scandal that is shaking Turkey’s government

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz and assess the contention that the US is “winning.” Also, I interview strategic analyst Ali Ahmadi on the impact of US sanctions on Iran as well as the role of the Pahlavist opposition in the Diaspora.

borzou.substack.com

The Stalemate In The Middle East Won’t Last (S01E160)

Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Istanbul

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Turkey is being rocked by one of the worst financial scandals in its history, with some estimated that $19 billion in investor assets have been pilfered. In the latest episode of badlands, I break down the scandal and discuss the mounting public outrage. borzou.substack.com/p/ponzi-sche...

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‘Ponzi Scheme’: Massive Financial Scandal Engulfs Turkey (S01E159)

Ruling party honcho implicated in collapse. Plus, China’s ascent, Iran’s offer, Yemen’s spiral, and Cuba’s tragedy.

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The US has long had enemies, rivals, and adversaries, but none quite like Iran. In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss why the relationship between the US and Iran is so...weird, anomalous. youtu.be/0o_4CJtcyw0?...

Why The Relationship Between The US And Iran Is So Bizarre (S01E158)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the history of US-Iran relations and why they are so bad…and so weird. Also in this episode, Chatham House’s stellar Sanam Vakil joins me for a discussion about the diplomacy around Iran.

borzou.substack.com

Why The Relationship Between The US And Iran Is So Bizarre (S01E158)

Plus, Sanam Vakil of Chatham House on the diplomacy surrounding Iran.

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

On the latest episode of badlands, I discussed Donald Trump's insane threats to destroy a nation of 93 million borzou.substack.com/p/trump-thre...

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Trump Threatens To Annihilate Iran. World Shrugs (S01E156)

Plus, Erdogan calls for diplomacy, Iran warns of new weapons, and prospects for a peace deal.

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

On the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the awful choice Ukraine faces between a terrible deal with Russia and a terrible war with the backing of fickle, selfish allies. Please watch for free, hit the like button, and subscribe! www.youtube.com/watch?v=355o...

On Ukraine, What If Everyone Is In The Wrong? (S01E155)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

On the latest episode of badlands, a former Iranian political prisoner, plus my warning of the dangers of melding the Iran and Yemen conflict. Please watch for free, and then hit the like and follow button www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEs8...

US Close to Fusing and Escalating Wars in Iran And Yemen (S01E154)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

“We tried to do the whole Shia crescent and Sunni thing and it just isn’t a helpful way to look at the region because what happens is that then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. And then these become the good guys and these become the bad guys.”

Axing The ‘Axis': Ditching Tired Thinking On Foreign Policy

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

In this edition of badlands, College of DuPage professor David Goldberg joins for a discussion about the complexities of American life, focusing on immigration issues, public reactions to government policies, and the upcoming elections. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuGH...

ICE Continues To Wage War On America (S01E153)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

In the latest FREE edition of badlands, I discuss reports by CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN that showed the extent of the damage caused by Iran’s attacks on the Arabian Peninsula and its under-appreciated capabilities. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jft8...

Leaks Expose Iran War Damage, Iranian Capability (S01E152)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Yemen’s Ansar Allah seized control over huge swaths of the country, defeating Saudi-backed forces in an extraordinary offensive that appears to have been in the works for months.

A Political Earthquake In Yemen (S01E150)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

youtu.be/XVC-vUEWVSg?...

Is A Free Syria Still Possible?

YouTube video by badlands podcast

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Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

In the latest episode of badlands, Turkish journalist and security analyst Ahu Ozyurt joins for a talk about 9/11 and Turkey’s role in the region’s conflicts, then and now. We also discuss Turkish domestic politics, and the latest surge by a new opposition party.

borzou.substack.com

A World Still Haunted By The Shadow Of September 11 (S01E149)

Watch now (48 mins) | Ahu Ozyurt joins for a discussion about 9/11 attacks and Turkish domestic and international politics. Plus, JD Vance moves into the position of GOP frontrunner

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

For months the US claimed that its war against Iran was a success because it had “degraded” Iran’s military and nuclear program. But recent military exchanges and news reports have revealed the reality of Iran’s missile capabilities and its nuclear program has emerged.

How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count The Ways (S01E148)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

On the latest episode of badlands, I discuss Israel’s reaction to the sanctions and the significance on the trading restrictions imposed on Israel, as well as the latest escalation in Yemen. Also an interview with ex US diplomat Alan Eyre, who talks about US foreign policy in the age of Trump.

borzou.substack.com

A New Hope: Fighting Back Against Israel’s Extremism (S01E147)

Alan Eyre on continuity between the Trump administration and the past; Plus sanctions against Israel’s settlers, the sorry state of human rights, democracy, and diplomacy

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Ottawa doubles down on its confrontation with the US. Plus UK sanctions on Israel, and part one of my interview with Chatham House’s brilliant Sanam Vakil, who has a critical, well-informed take on the crisis in the Persian Gulf.

borzou.substack.com

America Needs An Intervention (S01E146)

Chatham House’s Sanam Vakil on the crisis in the Middle East. Plus, updates on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

An article in Israel’s Jerusalem Post last week made waves for a provocative suggestion to boost military recruitment numbers to fight the Iran war. In this special Labor Day episode of badlands, I discuss the sheer chutzpah of the suggestion and one aspect of it that hasn’t been widely pointed out.

Sacrifice American Lives, Wealth For Israel’s Regime Change War In Iran

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Huge segments of official Washington are finally catching up with the overwhelming American public consensus that the war is a disastrous mistake. But why did it take so much and so long to overcome?

How Iran Is Defeating The Washington Blob

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Unique among allies, Canada has stood up to the US, with Premier Mark Carney refusing to buckle to American pressure. In the latest episode of badlands, University of Ottawa professor Thomas Juneau discusses Canada’s stance on both Trump and the ongoing Middle East war.

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Why Canada Is Challenging The US (S01E144)

Thomas Juneau on Canada’s bold stance. Plus, why Iran is bound to become another forever war, and updates on the Pentagon and the West Bank

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Former US Pentagon official Jasmine el-Gamal joins me for a candid discussion about American arrogance. I speak about an alternative universe where Donald Trump embraces diplomacy. borzou.substack.com/p/when-empir...

borzou.substack.com

When Empires Meet Their Match In Iran, Ukraine (S01E143)

Jasmine el-Gamal on whether the US military power does any good anywhere in the world

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

In the latest episode of badlands, I bring you up to speed on what happened and explain why the return to kinetic warfare was inevitable. Plus, I recount my interview with the International Crisis Group's Amjad Iraqi, who recently published a lengthy report on the dashed hopes for peace in Gaza.

Iran Wedding Horror Sparks Waves Of Missiles At US Bases

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the inevitability of the return to warfare as well as the escalating rhetoric preceding the bombing and the danger of the type of “preemptive” war thinking that drives the US thinking. borzou.substack.com/p/back-to-bo...

borzou.substack.com

Back To Bombs: US Launches Fresh Attacks On Iran (S01E140)

Watch now | Plus updates on the deadly boat accident in north Cyprus, and the meeting between the CIA and Russian officials in Moscow

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The US claimed it launched attacks on two missile launchers preparing to attack Persian Gulf shipping on Iran's Larak Island. Iran says two military personnel were killed and two injured, and launched overnight counterattacks targeting US military sites in Jordan and the Arabian Peninsula.

Back To Bombs: US Launches Fresh Attacks On Iran (S01E140)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

In the latest episode of badlands, the state of the conflict, with a focus on the US bases that were hit by the Iranians during the war and may never ever be rescuscitated. Plus, a new strategic alliance formed by regional countries in reaction to the chaos and unpredictability of the US

US Bases, How Low You Can You Go? (S01E139)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

In the latest edition of badlands, energy analyst Nader Cyrus Itayim joins me to sort through the lies and hype to figure out just how much oil is being moved out of the Persian Gulf and whether global energy supplies are dwindling.

borzou.substack.com

Oil’s Well That Ends Well In The Persian Gulf (S01E138)

Watch now | Energy analyst Nader Itayim assesses the energy picture in the Middle East and worldwide. Plus, how the US is pressuring countries to comply with sanctions, and why Bill Gates is in the ne...

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Scott Bessent and Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf acknowledged the US is treading on fragile economic ice with bond yields spiking and oil reserves plummeting. In the latest edition of badlands, I discuss why the sanctions on Iran risk damaging an already weakened global economy.

borzou.substack.com

Iran Sanctions Could Tank The World Economy (S01E137)

Why the US is really pulling back from its own scheme to strangle the Iranian economy

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Both Scott Bessent and Iran Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf acknowledged that the US is skating on thin economic ice with bond yields spiking and oil reserves plummeting. youtu.be/9YfWm7HST2U

Iran Sanctions Could Tank The World Economy (S01E137)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

In the latest edition of balands, Nadim Shehadi and I debate models for the future of the Middle East, whether the glittery global-connectedness of Dubai or the gritty resilience of Tehran is more desirable or feasible, as well as the successes and failures of the US wars in the Middle East.

borzou.substack.com

Neocon Wars Have All Been Failures. Will Iran Be Different?

Borzou Daragahi vs Nadeem Shehadi on US interventions abroad. Plus, Scott Bessent’s sanctions appear destined to fail.

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Author and intellectual Robin Yassin-Kassab aka @qunfuz.bsky.social tells badlands the story behind the not-so-clandestine effort by the CIA and regional powers to arm the Syrian rebel groups which ultimately toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The Real Story Of The CIA’s Regime Change Plot In Syria

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

i’m sure it’s in the conversation-–the problem is winds and the unpredictability of winds and the possibilty that the fallout could impact israel

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

In the latest edition of badlands, I discuss the various ways in which Israel has manipulated its control over the territory meant to be the main component of a future Palestinian state to impoverish the population and prevent the economy from thriving.

Israel Is Choking The West Bank Economy. The World Is Finally Noticing (S01E133) B

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The problem is winds. There’s no such thing really as a tactical nuke. If the US drops a nuclear bomb on Iran the winds will carry the radioactive fallout to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Gulf and maybe even back to Israel.

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Iran could cause oil prices to spike right when it matters most

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Donald Trump plumbs new depths of dishonor and disloyalty by threatening to bomb one ally while throwing another to the nuclear-armed wolves. In the latest episode of badlands, I ask why Iran or any country not named Israel would trust the US or make any deals with it. youtu.be/ApuCN2gdmLo

Screwing Over Your Friends And Neighbors (S01E131)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The president keeps flapping his trap with irresponsible talk. Iranians are responding with esclalatory rhetoric. On the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the latest rhetorical flourishes by US and Iranian officials. youtu.be/xp6iNKk-bjE

Donald Trump Can’t Shut His Big Fat Mouth (S01E130)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

One kidnapped innocent people and forced them into concentration camps. Another aired a forced confession live on television. Yet another stole people’s homes and terrorized their inhabitants. Three misbehaving governments compete for the dubious honor of “rogue regime of the week.”

borzou.substack.com

Rogue Regimes: Governments Which Oppress, Abduct, And Brutalize (S01E129)

Iran, Israel, and the US compete for rogue regime of the week

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Recent comments by US President Donald Trump on Iran show how stuck he is in his Iran failures. In the latest episode of badlands, host Borzou Daragahi breaks down Trump’s latest lies and misinformation and sketch out how Iran has become a hell of his own making. youtu.be/UlYf7wfWWY8

Donald Trump Is Stuck In The Quicksand of Iran (S01E127)

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Reposted by Borzou Daragahi

Robin Yassin-Kassab @qunfuz.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Talking to @borzou.bsky.social about "The Blood Between Us: Syria After the Fall of Assad"

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Scholar Nahid Siamdoust joins badlands to disuss her new article for The New York Review of Books in which she explores how the Saudi-financed and Israeli-controlled satellite news channel Iran International shaped opinons of the war in both Iran and the diaspora. youtu.be/nNnj8wiFz30?...

How A TV Channel Drove The Iran War

YouTube video by badlands podcast

Borzou Daragahi @borzou.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

The US appears poised to hand over control of the Strait of Hormuz over to the Iranians. Meanwhile, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan inked a major security partnership, dissing the US attempt to corral the countries of the region into the pro-Israel Abraham Accords.

Sour Grapes: US, Israel Lose On Hormuz, Diplomatic Alliances (S01E124)

YouTube video by badlands podcast