The Islamic revolution that swept Iran in 1979 changed not only that state but also the region, and the world. The current war in and Iran can still be understood as a direct outcome of that event.

The humiliation of the US in 1979 made it implacably opposed to Iran. The alignment of most of the Gulf states with the US and their increasing ties with Israel also created a complex balance. On the other hand, Iran's spread of influence through its "Shia Crescent" in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, with offshoots in Yemen and Gaza, made it a formidable and threatening presence.

It is upon this background that the US-Israeli strikes commenced on February 28, engulfing the whole region in destruction and disorder.

Dina Esfandiary, Middle East lead at Bloomberg Economics, is an excellent guide to this complex reality. With clarity and depths of knowledge, this is the conversation we all need now.

This episode was recorded on 5 March 2026

Chapters

• Iran's response and regional implications
• Historical context of Gulf-Iran rivalry
• Iran's military capabilities and regional concerns
• What motived the US to strike Iran?
• The plight of the Iranian people

Mentions

• [Dina’s articles - Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AV0Rw29Q1B0/dina-esfandiary](https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AV0Rw29Q1B0/dina-esfandiary)

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• Dina Esfandiary LinkedIn & X/Twitter
• Ilana Bet-El
• Instagram @women_leaders_podcast
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• Our partner European Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn Facebook website

Credits

• Production: Florence Ferrando
• Music: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT

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