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Perspectives: Iran Past and Present

Dr. Shivan Mahendrarajah 5 Episodes Aug 19, 2026

This podcast explores the history, religion, culture, and politics of Iran, spanning from the classical period to present-day Middle East affairs. The host, Dr. Shivan Mahendrarajah, shares essays, podcast episodes, videos, and images on these topics. His academic publications and additional resources are available on his website.

Episodes

Iran’s Nuclear Ambiguity and Trump’s “Pickaxe Mountain” Pickle Aug 19, 2026 223 US and Israel handed Tehran the precious gift of nuclear ambiguity. Before 13 June 2025, Iran had the most open nuclear program in the world; today, the most opaque program. 440.9kg of 60% “highly-enriched uranium” survives at scattered sites; there is no single target for Special Forces or USAF to strike. The hoopla about “Pickaxe Mountain” is manufactured by Israel to force Trump to attack and r

How the Taliban Defeated the Pentagon’s “Best and Brightest” Aug 14, 2026 1236 Sat., 15-Aug-26, is the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s victory over the US. In a 20-minute podcast, two discussants analyze the intellectual failures that led to the US’s strategic defeat. It is based on Shivan Mahendrarajah’s article in “Small Wars & Insurgencies,” and “is a scathing indictment of Generals Petraeus, McChrystal, et al., who brought military hardware to a political battlef

Iran’s Impenetrable Underground Bases Aug 12, 2026 196 “The Iranian missile cities the US could not destroy” by the Financial Times caused a stir, but Iran specialists knew that underground bases were selected for their geography and geology. They are impregnable. Evidence and analysis in the essay.

“China’s Eyes, Iran’s Fist”: PLA’s Satellites Help IRGC to Close the “Kill Chain” Aug 8, 2026 244 China’s satellite network provides Iran with 24/7/365 coverage and real-time updates: SIGINT, terrain mapping, telemetry; radar, optical, and infrared all-weather, day & night imaging, allowing Iran to precisely strike Israeli and U.S. targets. Details in the essay.

US Army’s Debacle in the Iranian Desert Aug 7, 2026 277 Trump’s Gamble. On Easter Weekend, 4–5 April, US Special Forces suffered a debacle near the nuclear site in Isfahan. Trump’s social media meltdown was because the plan to seize Iran’s enriched uranium failed. The “pilot rescue” story is false. Read the essay at my website.

A Sunni Community Thrives in Shia Iran Aug 6, 2026 3182 Shivan Mahendrarajah’s book, The Sufi Saint of Jam: History, Religion, and Politics of a Sunni Shrine in Shi‘i Iran (Cambridge University Press, 2021) explores the history, religion, politics, and architecture of Ahmad-i-Jam’s shrine, located in eastern Iran. Sunni shrine and community have thrived for over 900 years. This is of particular relevance given prevailing assumptions about Iran’s allege

Iran War: Failures in US Generalship Aug 4, 2026 223 Podcast of essay published this day. Essay has details, links, and images

Perspectives: Iran Past and Present

Episodes

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