Episode 24

Who Runs the Islamic Republic? Iran’s power structure, negotiation strategy and regional relations.

Published on: 16th April, 2026

What does the Islamic Republic really want? As the US imposes a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz in order to ratchet up the pressure on Iran, the two sides still seem intent on trying to find a way to make negotiations work and to bring an end to this destructive war that's affected so many in the region and worldwide. The question is, who is making the decisions inside of Iran? And what do they really want?

We know what the US says it wants. It wants the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and it wants Iran to vow never to seek a nuclear weapon. The Iranian side is a bit more complicated and opaque. Is it about economic issues? Is it about maintaining control of the of Hormuz? or is it about something else altogether?

I'm Jasmine El-Gamal, and this is The View From Here, where every week we take you behind the headlines and into the lives of the people living them.

This week, I spoke to Iranian analyst Hamidreza Azizi. He's a foreign policy and security expert and currently a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, working in the Africa and Middle East research division. Previously, he served as an assistant professor of regional studies at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran from 2016 to 2020. He holds a PhD in regional studies from the University of Tehran, although has not been able to return home for several years now.

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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

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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.