Iranians at war with Liora Hendelman-Baavur & Maneli Mirkhan

In week three of the war started by US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, the main outcome appears to be destruction: of buildings and gas fields and military hardware; of the world energy market; of US credibility. The conflict has spread to Lebanon courtesy of Hezbollah, and Israel is being hit by missiles from there and Iran. The Gulf states, living under attack too, are seeing their economic model of a luxury bubble financed by high spenders dwindle away. The Straits of Hormuz, the crucial waterway through which energy, fertilisers and much else travels, is now closed. And while still shooting its ballistic missiles and many drones, Iran is being pummelled daily while seeing its ranks of leadership picked off faster than appointments are possible.So what do the Iranian people make of the war? What are their horizons, and options? In absolute fact it is difficult to tell as the Ayatollahs keep the internet closed and for many contact to the outside world is difficult. But information is getting out, and as ever it is far more nuanced and complex than the simple narratives of for or against the regime that have been supplied so far.Iran historian Dr Liora Hendelman-Baavur of Tel Aviv University and Maneli Mirkhan, strategist and Iran expert bring fascinating insights into the thinking and possibilities of the Iranian people, as well as many other analyses of how this war came about, and why it is difficult to predict how it ends.This episode was recorded on 19 March 2026ChaptersAn expected war between Israel and Iran?Public sentiment and reactions in Iran and IsraelRegional Dynamics: Iran and the Gulf StatesWhat comes next with the war?MentionsDorna websiteLiora’s book Creating the Modern Iranian Woman: Popular Culture Between Two Revolutions FollowLiora Hendelman-Baavur LinkedIn & Tel-Aviv University pageManeli Mirkhan LinkedIn & websiteIlana Bet-ElInstagram @women_leaders_podcastListen this episode on our YouTube channelOur partner European Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn Facebook websiteCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJTContribute to the conversation with a comment & a 5-⭐️Reach us on our Instagram and follow for updates @women_leaders_podcastWatch now our episode on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.