The conflict in West Asia has entered a fragile and deeply contested phase marked by a tense mix of ceasefires, blockades, and sporadic flare-ups that continue to destabilize the region. In this conversation with Dr. Hindol Sengupta, Amb. (retd.) Prabhat Shukla explores the current state and future prospects of the Iran war, West Asian geopolitics, and the strategic interests of major powers like the US, China, and Russia. He offers expert insight into the complexities of regional conflicts, nuclear proliferation, and international diplomacy. Chapters 00:00-02:38 - Opening 02:39 - 07:34 - War in Iran: Current Situation 07:35 - 12:12 - Will history repeat itself in Iran? 12:13 - 19:48 - What is the endgame for this war? 19:49 - 24:41 - The financial impact of this war for Iran 24:42 - 30:23 - What happens to the Iranian regime? 30:24 - 34:33 - Can the Iranian nuclear programme ever be stalled? 34:34 - 40:51 - What is the endgame for Israel? 40:52 - 44:19 - The impact of internal political developments in the US 44:20 - 47:57 - How to assess China's response to this war? 47:58 - 51:28 - How are the Chinese looking at this in context to Taiwan? 51:29 - 52:01 - Closing #GlobalOrder #WestAsia #MiddleEastCrisis #IranConflict #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #WorldPolitics #StrategicAffairs #USForeignPolicy #NuclearRisk #EnergySecurity #StraitOfHormuz #Diplomacy #GlobalSecurity #ConflictAnalysis #PolicyTalks #ThinkTank #CurrentAffairs

In this wide-ranging and timely conversation, Hindol Sengupta speaks with M. J. Akbar, former Minister of State for External Affairs and an eminent author, on the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape in West Asia. As tensions persist between the United States, Iran, and Israel, with diplomacy stalling and military escalation continuing, the discussion explores the deeper strategic currents shaping the region. From the resilience of Iran and the limits of rapid military objectives, to the shifting balance of power in West Asia, Akbar offers a nuanced perspective grounded in decades of diplomatic and political experience. The conversation also examines the role of emerging and established powers whether it is Pakistan’s attempt to position itself as a peacemaker, China’s calculated restraint, or the growing opportunities and challenges for India’s diplomacy in a fractured region. What does a prolonged conflict mean for regional stability? Is the idea of a “short war” now obsolete? Can internal pressures reshape Iran’s future? And most importantly, how should India navigate this moment to strengthen its strategic position? Chapters - 0:00-1:05 Opening 1:20-8:00 Where Is the US–Iran–Israel Conflict Headed 8:34-14:33 Why Iran’s Missiles Aren’t Depleting? 15:14-18:17 West Asia’s Power Balance After the War 19:04-21:21 Dubai Dream Shaken: Real Estate Slows, What Next? 22:38-26:50 Why Iran Has Proved So Resilient 27:22-28:35 Is Moderation Possible in Iran? 29:15-3517 A New Role for Pakistan in Geopolitics 36:02-41:00 Why China Is Staying on the Sidelines 41:39-45:57 India’s Strategic Window in West Asia 45:58-46:00 Closing #WestAsia #Geopolitics #IndiaForeignPolicy #Diplomacy #Iran #Israel #USA #MiddleEastCrisis #GlobalPolitics #InternationalRelations #StrategicAffairs #IndiaInWorld #ForeignPolicy #ConflictAnalysis #WorldOrder #China #Pakistan #PeaceTalks #WarAndPeace #GlobalSecurity

Rajesh Agrawal says the India–UK trade agreements create huge opportunities for a more open service economy, but emphasizes that simply signing them isn’t enough—both countries must actively promote and help businesses on each side take full advantage of these opportunities. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd0Aluc

Rajesh Agrawal highlights that during his tenure, London’s tech ecosystem rapidly grew from just a handful of unicorns in 2016 to over 100, driven by combining tech with traditional strengths like finance (FinTech), education (EdTech), and creative industries. He adds that London has become a global hub, even surpassing Hollywood in film production in recent years. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd0Aluc

Bernard Haykel explains why Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders believe the Iranian regime has become an "untenable" neighbor. Characterizing the regime as a regional "arsonist" that uses extortion and military threats, such as attacking ships or firing rockets at skyscrapers, Prof Haykel argues that such instability directly sabotages the Gulf's efforts to diversify their economies and build secure, global hubs like Dubai. Consequently, many Arab nations have concluded that the regime is not a responsible actor and must be significantly weakened to ensure the long-term economic and physical security of the region. Watch the full interview here - https://youtu.be/00eIrh9jw6Q?si=ah0MQr7t4MraSqzW

Note - This episode was recorded on March 23. Given the rapidly evolving situation, particularly regarding Iran, some of the developments discussed may have changed since the time of recording. ---- In this compelling interview with Ishan Dhar, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), unpacks the arrest of Matthew VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals as well as the ever-widening shadow of the Iran war. Chapters 00:00 - 00:52 - Opening 00:53 - 02:08 - Introduction 02:09 - 04:22 - NIA Arrests: Matthew VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals 04:23 - 08:58 - The outsourcing of Ukrainian drone operators and influence operations 08:59 - 17:14 - Is the US interfering in India's northeast? 17:15 - 22:22 - The incompetence of the American-Israeli operation in Iran 22:23 - 28:48 - The Iranian onslaught on the Persian Gulf states 28:49 - 33:49 - Is an American ground offensive in the offing in Iran? 33:50 - 34:57 - The resignation of Joe Kent 34:58 - 41:00 - Will Iran accelerate nuclear enrichment? 41:01 - 43:56 - Is an energy crisis coming? 43:57 - 44:19 - Closing #Geopolitics #Iran #Israel #USIran #MiddleEast #ForeignMercenaries #GlobalSecurity #IndiaNortheast #WarAnalysis #StrategicAffairs #InternationalRelations #Defense #Podcast #WorldPolitics

Bernard Haykel argues that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s confidence in toppling the Iranian regime is fueled by an inner circle telling him what he wants to hear. Meanwhile, high-ranking members of the Israeli security establishment warn that the regime is simply too well entrenched to fall, but their warnings are being ignored by the political leadership. He adds that the Iranian regime remains united, heavily armed, and has proven it is willing to use lethal force against its own citizens to maintain power. Watch the full interview here - https://youtu.be/00eIrh9jw6Q?si=ah0MQr7t4MraSqzW

Bernard Haykel outlines the key dynamics of the ongoing conflict between President Trump and the Iranian regime. He highlights two major variables that will determine the outcome, the first being President Trump’s commitment to the campaign (‘pain threshold’)and the Iranian regime’s true military capabilities (such as the numbers of drones and missiles they have left) which are very opaque. He further adds that Iran has a massive ‘pain threshold’ because its ideology is built entirely around resistance, resilience, and martyrdom. According to Prof Haykel, the regime does not care about the suffering of its own people and believes it can simply wait the war out forever. Despite their rhetoric of outlasting the conflict, Prof Haykel points out the reality that Iran and its infrastructure are being ‘systematically destroyed’, he concludes that while it's unclear how or when they will do it, but if President Trump is willing to keep the pressure on, Iran will eventually be forced to capitulate. Watch the full interview here - https://youtu.be/00eIrh9jw6Q?si=ah0MQr7t4MraSqzW