Gaddam Dharmendra is a former Indian Foreign Service officer who joined the service in 1990. He served in senior diplomatic roles for over three decades and was India’s Ambassador to Iran from 2019 to 2023. He is known for his deep understanding of West Asia, sanctions, and regional politics.

Dr Waiel Awwad is a Syrian-born journalist based in South Asia who covers Middle East affairs. He has reported from several war zones. During the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, he was caught in an ambush while reporting from the ground and narrowly escaped execution. Also joining the podcast is ANI Director Ishaan Prakash.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the guests discuss the Iran crisis and the future of the Khamenei regime. They talk about possible US intervention, whether Iran’s Khamenei regime could fall, and who might take over if that happens. The conversation also examines what the people of Iran truly want and how today’s protests differ from the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

00:00 — Introduction

01:13 — Inside Iran’s Protests

12:42 — Gulf States Against US Strike Over Iran

16:35 — Trump’s Appeal to Iranian Protesters

22:09 — Iran Regime Change Soon?

25:08 — Iranian Institutions

27:50 — Iran’s Nuclear Program

37:28 — US-Iran Negotiation Talks

48:25 — The Iran–Israel Conflict

51:10 — US Sanctions on Iran

57:20 — US Media Coverage of Iran

1:06:28 — Pro-Government Rallies in Iran

1:13:45 — Iran’s Economic Crisis