Episode 20

A New Supreme Leader in Iran: What does this mean for the war?

Published on: 13th March, 2026

This week we're talking about Iran and what it means for the slain Supreme Leader's son to be chosen as his successor.

Fourteen days into the war, there still doesn't seem to be any kind of off ramp or any kind of vision for how this war ends. And in the meantime, more and more damage is being done to the region, not just to Iran, not just to the US and Israel those are all parties to the conflict, but also across the Gulf, across Lebanon and we can't see an end.

To unpack the rapidly unfolding events in the Middle East, Jasmine spoke to Iranian-American analyst Negar Mortazavi, a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy in Washington Dc and host of The Iran Podcast, and Ilan Goldenberg, Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at J Street and former Middle East advisor to Vice President Kamal Harris. Ilan and Jasmine were also colleagues at the Pentagon during the Obama administration.

They discussed possible scenarios for ending the war, the lasting impact on the Gulf states, how Israel's upcoming elections could start a pathway towards de-escalation in the region, and as always, the human cost of the war and how Iranians have been impacted.

Negar's Podcast (The Iran Podcast): https://www.negarmortazavi.com/iran-podcast

Ilan's Substack: https://ilangoldenberg.substack.com/

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The View From Here

About the Podcast

The View From Here
The View From Here with Jasmine El-Gamal
The View From Here is a brand-new weekly podcast hosted by former Pentagon official and foreign policy analyst Jasmine El-Gamal.

Each Thursday, Jasmine connects the dots between global headlines and the human stories behind them.

From war rooms to conflict zones to refugee camps, she draws on her experiences to examine how policy decisions impact real lives, uncovering the unseen costs of power.

The View from Here is foreign policy, reimagined: from the people shaping it, to those it impacts.

Get in touch with us with your thoughts and questions! You can find us at jasmine@viewfromherepod.com.

Disclaimer: The View from Here aims to showcase a wide range of views and opinions, which do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or its host.

About your host

Profile picture for Jasmine El-Gamal

Jasmine El-Gamal

Jasmine El-Gamal is a foreign policy analyst and former Pentagon official who cares deeply about building bridges and changing the way we talk and think about policies that affect us all.

In this polarized, tribal environment, we've lost something essential. We've lost our ability to see each other's humanity across political and cultural divides.

As a first-generation Arab-American who's navigated cultures across North America, the Middle East, and Europe, Jasmine knows what it's like to live between worlds. To see how the same event can be understood completely differently depending on where you're standing.

The View from Here is her brand new podcast where she will break down foreign policy, and the news, and their impact on the humans behind the headlines.