Hard Knock Radio Recap: Professor Stephen Zunes Unpacks U.S.–Iran Tensions

KPFA - Hard Knock Radio

Content provided by KPFA.org - KPFA 94.1 Berkeley, CA. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by KPFA.org - KPFA 94.1 Berkeley, CA or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

10d ago 59:58

MP3•Episode home

In a wide-ranging and timely conversation, host Davey D sat down with Professor Stephen Zunes of the University of San Francisco to break down the current situation with Iran, the history that informs it, and the often contradictory role the U.S. plays in Middle East policy.

Zunes began with an “Iran 101,” noting the country’s rich history, strategic size, and its role as a major regional player. He argued that much of the U.S. and Israeli hostility toward Iran stems less from human rights concerns and more from Iran’s refusal to submit to U.S.–Israeli hegemony in the region. While Iran’s regime is undeniably repressive, Zunes pointed out the glaring hypocrisy in how the U.S. tolerates similar or worse abuses from allies like Saudi Arabia.

Davey D steered the conversation into historical context, recalling the 1953 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Iran’s democratically elected leader, Mohammad Mossadegh, for trying to nationalize oil. Zunes agreed, saying this U.S. interference directly contributed to the eventual rise of the current theocratic regime. The irony? It was the secular Left that was destroyed in the years following the coup, leaving a vacuum for the Ayatollahs to fill.

A major point of discussion was the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which Zunes described as extremely restrictive and effective. He criticized Trump for tearing up the agreement, and Biden for not rejoining it. This, Zunes argued, has helped provoke unnecessary conflict, made diplomacy harder, and provided political cover for Israel’s aggressive actions.

Davey raised the concern about double standards and the potential targeting of Iranian Americans. Zunes acknowledged those fears, highlighting the possibility of civil liberties being curtailed in the name of “national security”—a pattern familiar from post-9/11 America.

The conversation concluded with Zunes warning about a manufactured crisis: keeping the spotlight on Iran helps distract from Israel’s war in Gaza and settler colonialism in the West Bank. He called for a renewed anti-war movement and for Americans to hold both Democrats and Republicans accountable for reckless foreign policy.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Hard Knock Radio Recap: Professor Stephen Zunes Unpacks U.S.–Iran Tensions appeared first on KPFA.

1002 episodes

#Politics #News #KPFA.org - KPFA 94.1 Berkeley, CA #Hard Knock Radio