Iran’s Foreign Front: How is Tehran reshaping ties with the region and the world

Iran’s Foreign Front: How is Tehran reshaping ties with the region and the world

Author: The Hindu October 15, 2025 Duration: 57:24
Iran today stands at a crossroads, acting as both a stabilising and destabilising force in one of the world’s most volatile regions. Its influence extends through a network of allies and proxies, from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen, while its diplomatic and strategic moves continue to draw global attention. In this second part of our two-part series on Iran, we examine the country’s foreign relations and regional strategy. We look at Tehran’s rapprochement with Saudi Arabia in 2023, its growing partnerships with China and Russia, and the ongoing tensions with the United States following the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal. We also explore how India navigates its ties with Iran, balancing economic engagement with broader regional considerations. This episode unpacks how Tehran’s alliances, rivalries, and strategic calculations shape West Asia and beyond, asking critical questions about the sustainability of its partnerships and the long-term implications for regional and global stability. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Video: Shivaraj S Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Produced by The Hindu, Global Faultlines is for those who feel the daily headlines only scratch the surface. This international affairs podcast digs into the tectonic shifts happening beneath the day's events, seeking out the historical grievances, economic pressures, and ideological battles that truly explain why conflicts ignite and borders tense. Each episode is built not just on reporting, but on conversations with researchers, diplomats, and analysts who provide context often missing from the noise. You'll hear detailed examinations of power struggles in regions defining our century, from the South China Sea to the Sahel, unpacking how decisions in distant capitals ripple across the globe. The aim is to replace confusion with comprehension, offering a clearer picture of the forces sculpting our shared future. Tune in for a thoughtful, sustained look at the world’s most pressing divisions, where the analysis prioritizes depth and clarity over quick takes. This is a podcast dedicated to understanding the 'why' behind the 'what,' making sense of a complex geopolitical landscape one deep dive at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 28

Global Faultlines
Podcast Episodes
Afghanistan Part 2: The rise and rule of the Taliban [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:32
The Taliban emerged in the mid-1990s amid the instability that followed the Soviet withdrawal and the civil war that devastated Afghanistan. Promising to restore order and justice, the movement drew support from war-wear…
Afghanistan Part 1: From the monarchy to the Taliban [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:39
Afghanistan has long held a pivotal place in regional geopolitics, its strategic location making it a prize and a battleground for competing powers. From the 19th-century “Great Game” between Britain and Russia to the Co…
Israel–Palestine Part 3: Why the world cannot agree on the crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:09
In the first two episodes of this three-part series, we traced the roots of the Israel–Palestine question - from the legacies of colonialism and partition in 1948 to the cycles of displacement, violence, and negotiations…
Israel–Palestine, Part 2: How have wars shaped the region? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:10
In the previous episode, we revisited the history of the Israel Palestine conflict, until the creation of Israel in 1948. However, 1948 was not the end, but the beginning of a turbulent new chapter in the region. In the…
Israel-Palestine Conflict: Origins of the Divide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:36
Why does the Israel–Palestine conflict remain one of the most intractable crises of our time? To understand today’s headlines, we need to go back to where it all began. In the launch episode of Global Faultlines, we trac…