Sep 25, 2026 · 1 hr 15 min · 9 segments
President Donald Trump has subjected Iran to extraordinary military and economic pressure. Its leadership has been battered, its economy squeezed, its oil trade disrupted and its regional network…
Ludovic HoodGuest
Ilan BermanGuest
Negar MojtahediHost
Max MeizlishGuest
And in January, Iranians once again stood up, took to the streets and demanded an end to the Islamic Republic.
This week, President Massoud Pesachian is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, and Washington is once again dealing with a government it has spent months and continues to fight.
So I want to go beyond another discussion of whether there will be, you know, more sanctions, a possible deal, a resumption of war, but rather why is the Islamic Republic still standing? And what would actually need to have to happen for that to change? And for that, joining me in our Washington, D.C.
You also advise Vice President Mike Pence in Iran and the greater Middle East during the first Trump administration.
And the fact that, you know, just a few months ago, Pesach Gion was hiding, potentially thinking that he could be a target of US and Israeli airstrikes.
He's representing the same government that has suffered all these military losses.
And I look and I think to myself, how is this system still able to carry on as a government after everything that has happened in Iran? You've spent years watching Washington deal with Tehran from very different positions.
Are we missing anything? Are people assuming that a weakened government should bring us closer to a change in power? Is that an assumption being made? And is that wrong?
First of all, in terms of the President and his entourage being in New York, yes, it probably strikes a lot of people, particularly those not familiar with the theatre of diplomacy, a little odd that the leadership or some of the leadership of a country with whom we are in active hostilities has a presence on our soil.
The UN General Assembly, this high-level week gathering is a a unique event every year.
Obviously, you know, sometimes we choose to enforce visa restrictions, like I think we did on the Palestinian Authority officials, and there have been other cases over the years.
And in January, Iranians once again stood up, took to the streets and demanded an end to the Islamic Republic.
This week, President Massoud Pesachian is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, and Washington is once again dealing with a government it has spent months and continues to fight.
So I want to go beyond another discussion of whether there will be, you know, more sanctions, a possible deal, a resumption of war, but rather why is the Islamic Republic still standing? And what would actually need to have to happen for that to change? And for that, joining me in our Washington, D.C.
You also advise Vice President Mike Pence in Iran and the greater Middle East during the first Trump administration.
And the fact that, you know, just a few months ago, Pesach Gion was hiding, potentially thinking that he could be a target of US and Israeli airstrikes.
He's representing the same government that has suffered all these military losses.
And I look and I think to myself, how is this system still able to carry on as a government after everything that has happened in Iran? You've spent years watching Washington deal with Tehran from very different positions.
Are we missing anything? Are people assuming that a weakened government should bring us closer to a change in power? Is that an assumption being made? And is that wrong?
First of all, in terms of the President and his entourage being in New York, yes, it probably strikes a lot of people, particularly those not familiar with the theatre of diplomacy, a little odd that the leadership or some of the leadership of a country with whom we are in active hostilities has a presence on our soil.
The UN General Assembly, this high-level week gathering is a a unique event every year.
Obviously, you know, sometimes we choose to enforce visa restrictions, like I think we did on the Palestinian Authority officials, and there have been other cases over the years.
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