The Iran Reckoning with Afshon Ostovar

Join renowned Iran expert Afshon Ostovar as he explores the strategic dynamics, military developments, and geopolitical tensions shaping Iran and its partners, rivals, and interests in the Middle East and beyond.

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Profit and Peril in Iran’s Private Sector

The Iran Reckoning with Afshon Ostovar
August 19, 2025

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Episode Notes:

Afshon sits down with Washington Post reporter Yeganeh Torbati to discuss how the Iranian government has responded to the country's emerging tech sector. Their conversation examines the tools the regime — particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — uses to exert control over the economy, and considers whether more space for Iranian entrepreneurship might emerge in the future.