The Inside Story Podcast

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What economic impacts will war with Iran have on Israel? Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Millions of Israelis forced to take shelter day and night, from repeated Iranian missile attacks. The economic shockwaves of the war Israel and the US have launched against Iran are being felt across the world. How is it affecting Israel and its future?

In this episode:

Gideon Levy, columnist at Haaretz Newspaper.
Alex Coman, professor at Holon Institute of Technology
Dan Perry, political analyst, former editor of the Associated Press in Europe, Middle East and Africa

Host: James Bays

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Have Israel, the US, and Iran broken international law during the war? Mar 23, 2026

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Schools and hospitals bombed. Strikes on apartment buildings. Energy facilities targeted. And attacks on neighbouring states. Have Israel, the US, and Iran broken international law in the war, or what legal justification might they claim?

In this episode:

Geoffrey Nice, Human rights lawyer and former International Criminal Court prosecutor.
Brian Finucane, Senior Adviser with the U.S. Program at International Crisis Group
Nicholas Tsagourias, Professor of International Law at the University of Sheffield.

Host: James Bays

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Who's left running Iran? Mar 22, 2026

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Who's left running Iran? Much of the top leadership has been assassinated but the country is still fighting. How has it been able to withstand such blows? And can the Iranian government survive this war?

In this episode:

Hamidreza Gholamzadeh, Director, House of Diplomacy.
Ali Vaez, Director, Iran Project, International Crisis Group.
Tim Ripley, Editor, Defence Eye.

Host: James Bays

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Will the Houthis join Iran in its war against the US and Israel? Mar 21, 2026

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The Yemeni armed group says it's ready for any developments in the ongoing confrontation. Given their proximity to the Red Sea, what could the Houthis' involvement mean for this vital maritime route?

In this episode:

Farea Al Muslimi - Research Fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House
Khaled Batarfi - Political analyst who specialises in Saudi foreign policy
Rockford Weitz - Director of the Fletcher Maritime Studies Program at Tufts University

Host: James Bays

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What are the global risks of turning energy sites into battlefields? Mar 20, 2026

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Energy prices have soared since Israel attacked Iran's South Pars gas field. Iran has targeted oil and gas facilities in neighbouring countries since early in the war. And it's warned of more to come.

In this episode:

Mohsen Baharvand, Former Iranian ambassador to the United Kingdom
Jim Walsh, Research associate in MIT's Security Studies Program
John Sfakianakis, Chief economist at the Gulf Research Center

Host: Imran Khan

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Is Israel's decades-long assassination policy becoming normalised? Mar 19, 2026

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Israel assassinated Iran's supreme leader on the first day of the war — killing senior military, intelligence and political figures afterwards. For decades, assassination has been Israeli policy. But what has the strategy achieved? And is it becoming normalised?

In this episode:

Rami Khouri, Distinguished Fellow at the American University of Beirut
Illan Pappe, Israeli historian and chairperson of the Nakba Memorial Foundation
Luca Trenta, Associate Professor at Swansea University who specialises in state-sponsored assassinations

Host: James Bays

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What are Iran's options after the killing of its top security chiefs? Mar 18, 2026

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Relentless US and Israeli attacks on Iran killed top figures with thousands of air-strikes across the country. Iran has retaliated, hitting Israel and Gulf neighbours, targeting energy facilities and supply routes. So what are Iran's options now?

In this episode:

Elijah Magnier, Military and political analyst who specialises in wars in the Middle East
Setareh Sadeqi, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran
Mehran Kamrava, Iranian Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies

Host: Imran Khan

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Could the Iran war keep Netanyahu in power for longer? Mar 17, 2026

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Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has wanted to attack Iran for his entire political career, and he finally got his way with Donald Trump in the White House. Within Israel, there's huge support for the war. So how could it impact Netanyahu's political future?

In this episode:

Alon Pinkas, former Ambassador and Consul General of Israel in New York
Dahlia Scheindlin, political consultant and pollster based in Tel Aviv
Mitchell Barak, founder of Keevoon Research, Strategy and Communications, and former aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Host: Imran Khan

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Can Donald Trump survive a Strait of Hormuz shutdown? Mar 16, 2026

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The Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed to most shipping since the US and Israel attacked Iran — sending energy prices soaring worldwide. The marine channel in the Gulf had been the gateway for 20% of global energy supplies. What difficulties does this pose for Donald Trump?

In this episode:

Eli Bremer, Republican Strategist and Retired Major in the U.S. Air Force
Andreas Krieg, Associate Professor at the School of Security Studies at King's College London
Patrick Bury, Defence and Security Expert at the University of Bath

Host: James Bays

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What's the impact of the war in Iran on China? Mar 15, 2026

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What's the impact of the war in Iran on China? The two countries are close trading partners.Yet, Beijing has largely stayed away from lending any support to Tehran. But what does China stand to lose in this latest conflict in the Middle East?

In this episode: