Stolen Revolution: Behind Iran's Protest Movements (feat. Bozorgmehr Sharafedin)

Stolen Revolution: Behind Iran's Protest Movements (feat. Bozorgmehr Sharafedin)

Author: FDD June 3, 2026 Duration: 57:30

Every Iranian revolution begins with an ordinary life hitting an extraordinary wall. Stolen Revolution captures those moments — the personal reckonings with a regime that promised faith and delivered suffocation. Co-authored by award-winning journalists Yeganeh Torbati and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, the book traces six Iranians living the full arc of modern Iranian history: a Khomeini devotee cast from power, a poet who gave voice to a generation's shattered dreams, a bureaucrat who risked everything to expose state corruption, an entrepreneur crushed by the security apparatus, and two young women who joined the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising.

Iran International's Bozorgmehr Sharafedin joins FDD Iran Program Senior Director Behnam Ben Taleblu to unpack the human stories behind Iran's seismic shift from reform to revolution, and what they reveal about life under the Islamic Republic.


Hosted by Mark Dubowitz, The Iran Breakdown with Mark Dubowitz is a focused miniseries from FDD that cuts through the noise surrounding one of the world's most persistent and complex crises. Rather than just recounting headlines, this podcast delves into the underlying forces-historical, religious, and societal-that shape Iran's actions both at home and abroad. You'll hear detailed analysis on the regime's nuclear ambitions, its support for proxy networks across the Middle East, and the ongoing struggle for human rights within its borders. Each episode aims to connect these geopolitical strategies to their real-world impact, offering a clearer understanding of a nation that consistently defies simple explanation. For anyone trying to make sense of the tensions that ripple from Tehran to the wider world, this series provides essential context and insight, moving beyond surface-level reporting to explore the deeper cultural and ideological drivers. Tune in for a sober, informed exploration that treats the subject with the gravity it demands.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Iran Breakdown with Mark Dubowitz
Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 56:47
The regime in Iran has slaughtered tens of thousands of Iranians and plunged the country into an internet blackout — and dared the world to look away. Still, President Trump warned that American support was coming as U.S…
Iran Protests, Day 18 | A Decisive Moment for Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:17
While the United States is on the brink of military action in Iran, Iran itself may be on the brink of something far bigger.U.S. forces are repositioning. Allies are on alert. And in Tehran, a crippled regime already at…
Iran Protests: Day 16 | Mark's Generation Jihad interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:11
Iran Breakdown-ers, we're pleased to introduce you to Generation Jihad, a podcast from FDD's Long War Journal hosted by Bill Roggio.It's January 12, 2026, day 16 of the Iran protests. Bill hosts Mark on Generation Jihad…
Day 12 of the Iran Protests (January 8 update) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:07
The strong-as-ever Iranian people are back on the streets, protesting against the weak-as-ever regime in the shadow of the 12-Day War. Recorded live on X Spaces on Thursday, January 8, 2026 as events unfolded, this episo…
The Empire Strikes Back? (feat. Tal Kelman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:36
Retired Maj. Gen. Tal Kelman is one of Israel’s most accomplished fighter pilots and one of its top Iran strategists. He didn’t just help plan Operation Rising Lion — he flew missions in it. Now a colleague at FDD, he jo…
Is Iran Unraveling? (feat. David Patrikarakos) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:27
With the regime reeling from military humiliation, economic decay, and growing defiance at home, Mark sits down with frontline journalist David Patrikarakos to cut through Tehran’s spin to explain what’s really happening…
No Country for Old Mullahs (Behnam Ben Taleblu feat. Dr. Ali Ansari) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:59
We’re bringing you a riveting discussion from our sister podcast, Foreign Podicy, featuring FDD's Behnam Ben Taleblu in dialogue with Dr. Ali Ansari — one of the world’s foremost scholars of modern Iran. In a sweeping, i…