Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Iran’s nationwide protests have entered a new phase, and the stakes are rising by the hour. In this Forum Roundtable, host Lauri Regan is joined by Behnam Ben Taleblu (FDD) and Jason Brodsky (UANI) for a hard-nosed discussion of what’s driving the unrest, why this cycle looks different from past waves, and what “maximum support” could actually mean in practice.
The panel breaks down the economic trigger and political “hook” behind the uprising, the regime’s response (including internet shutdowns), and the debate over what U.S. pressure should look like beyond statements: sanctions, cyber operations, communications access, and targeting the repression apparatus. They also examine Israel’s posture after the “12-Day War,” the risks of regional escalation, and how Tehran’s weakened proxy network could reshape the battlefield from Hezbollah to the Houthis. Finally, they explore “the day after” questions: defections, fractures within the security services, and what a post–Islamic Republic transition could plausibly look like.
Share this episode, and subscribe for more MEF Roundtable discussions on the foreign policy and national security issues shaping the moment.
0:00 – Welcome & Overview
1:12 – Why This Protest Cycle Is Different
12:28 – “Maximum Support” Options For Washington
19:05 – Israel’s Role: Now And The Day After
27:35 – The “Day After”: Defections, Transition, Pahlavi Debate
39:47 – Russia & China: Support With Limits
42:15 – Turkey, Ethnic Mobilization, And Regional Power Shifts
48:52 – Proxies Under Stress: Hezbollah, Houthis, Hamas
53:10 – Gulf Overflight/Basing Rumors & Deterrence
57:02 – International Response, Media, And Legitimacy
Iran’s nationwide protests have entered a new phase, and the stakes are rising by the hour. In this Forum Roundtable, host Lauri Regan is joined by Behnam Ben Taleblu (FDD) and Jason Brodsky (UANI) for a hard-nosed discussion of what’s driving the unrest, why this cycle looks different from past waves, and what “maximum support” could actually mean in practice.
The panel breaks down the economic trigger and political “hook” behind the uprising, the regime’s response (including internet shutdowns), and the debate over what U.S. pressure should look like beyond statements: sanctions, cyber operations, communications access, and targeting the repression apparatus. They also examine Israel’s posture after the “12-Day War,” the risks of regional escalation, and how Tehran’s weakened proxy network could reshape the battlefield from Hezbollah to the Houthis. Finally, they explore “the day after” questions: defections, fractures within the security services, and what a post–Islamic Republic transition could plausibly look like.
Share this episode, and subscribe for more MEF Roundtable discussions on the foreign policy and national security issues shaping the moment.
0:00 – Welcome & Overview
1:12 – Why This Protest Cycle Is Different
12:28 – “Maximum Support” Options For Washington
19:05 – Israel’s Role: Now And The Day After
27:35 – The “Day After”: Defections, Transition, Pahlavi Debate
39:47 – Russia & China: Support With Limits
42:15 – Turkey, Ethnic Mobilization, And Regional Power Shifts
48:52 – Proxies Under Stress: Hezbollah, Houthis, Hamas
53:10 – Gulf Overflight/Basing Rumors & Deterrence
57:02 – International Response, Media, And Legitimacy
