Will a US deal with Tehran save the regime? | Eye for Iran | EP 104 |
Author: Iran International English
May 22, 2026
Duration: 53:48
Is Iran heading toward a nuclear deal — or another war?
As negotiations intensify, Tehran is threatening to expand the conflict beyond the Middle East while Israel remains on high alert. But behind the headlines lies a much bigger story: Iran’s growing attempt to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a geopolitical toll booth.
In this episode of Eye for Iran, Negar Mojtahedi is joined by former U.S. State Department Senior Advisor Hazem Alghabra, former U.S. Treasury sanctions official Max Meizlish, Middle East analyst Hayvi Bouzo and national security expert Shayan Samii to break down:
• Is Trump bluffing — or preparing for more war with Iran?
• Could a new nuclear deal actually help the Islamic Republic survive?
• Is China enabling Iran’s sanctions evasion and regional influence?
• Why Tehran’s “Hormuz toll booth” strategy could trigger a global economic confrontation
• Reports alleging Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was once considered in a post-Khamenei scenario
• Internal fractures inside the Iranian regime
• Whether economic pressure — not military strikes — is now the real battlefield
“The Iranian people do not need rockets, they do not need drones, the Iranian people need to live.”
WATCH UNTIL THE END for the explosive discussion on Ahmadinejad, Mossad, the New York Times report and the growing debate over what comes after the Islamic Republic.
00:00 Segment 1 — Deal or No Deal? War or No War?
Guest: Hazem Alghabra
00:00 Intro — Is Iran Heading Toward Diplomacy or More War?
02:19 Trump, Tehran & Israel’s High Alert Status
03:27 Iran’s Internal Power Struggle Explained
07:20 Could Economic Pressure Bring Down the Regime?
08:28 Trump’s Negotiation Strategy & Iran Fatigue
09:02 Russia, China & Europe’s Role in the Crisis
11:08 “The Iranian People Need to Live”
13:25 Segment 2 — China, Hormuz & Iran’s Toll Booth Strategy
Guest: Max Meizlish
13:25 Iran’s New “Hormuz Toll Booth” Explained
14:01 China’s Role in Iran’s Sanctions Evasion
16:04 Can the U.S. Punish China for Supporting Tehran?
19:35 Why Washington Isn’t Using Maximum Economic Pressure
21:50 Could Economic Warfare Weaken Both Iran & China?
25:06 Is Iran Formalizing Control Over the Strait of Hormuz?
27:56 Why China Needs Hormuz Open
29:28 China’s Quiet Negotiations With Tehran
30:53 Iran’s Alleged $2 Million Transit Fees
32:59 Segment 3 — Ahmadinejad, Mossad & The NYT Report
Guests: Hayvi Bouzo & Shayan Samii
33:08 The New York Times Report Explained
34:08 Who Is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
37:39 Ahmadinejad’s Record: Holocaust Denial & the Green Movement
39:17 Was the NYT Report Deliberately Leaked?
43:05 Is the Regime Turning on Ahmadinejad?
45:15 Internal IRGC Infighting & Succession Chaos
49:14 Could Ahmadinejad Ever Return?
51:54 Was the Leak Meant to Distract Iran’s Leadership?
53:20 Final Thoughts & Outro
#iran #trump #israel #china #hormuz #iranwar #nucleardeal #middleeast #irgc #MahmoudAhmadinejad #geopolitics #EyeForIran
