Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

---

Hooman Majd, author of the memoir Minister Without Portfolio, joins Robert Wright to discuss Iran’s strategic goals, the prospects for regime survival, and the US's missed opportunities for entente with Iran.

Subscribe to The NonZero Newsletter at: nonzero.org/subscribe
Exclusive Overtime discussion: nonzero.org/p/irans-war-for-a-new-middle-east-order
Join NonZero's Discord server: discord.gg/Zy4jAhTQMF

0:00 Teaser
2:10 How we got here
10:38 Understanding Iran's strategy and goals
15:58 Turkey, Europe, and the Gulf States
18:58 Will the Iranian regime survive?
20:44 The specious leadership of Reza Pahlavi
26:43 The many missed opportunities for US-Iran entente
39:25 Heading to Overtime

Discussed in Overtime:
How US-Israeli strikes made a Supreme Leader of Mojtaba Khamenei.
Domestic discontent within Iran.
How long can this war last?
How much pain are Israelis feeling?
What pressure would Trump respond to?

Hooman's most recent book, Minister Without Portfolio: zebooks.com/books/minister-without-portfolio

Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Hooman Majd (Minister Without Portfolio, The Ayatollahs' Democracy). Recorded March 11, 2026.

Twitter: twitter.com/NonzeroPods