Shows
POMEPS Middle East Political Science PodcastWars of Ambition (S. 14, Ep. 3)On this week's episode of the podcast, Afshon Ostovar of the Naval Postgraduate School joins Marc Lynch to discuss his new book, Wars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East. This book offers a sweeping, comprehensive history of the post-9/11 wars in the Middle East and the politics that fueled them. Ostovar discusses both the decline of American influence in the Middle East post-9/11 and the rise of Iran, while deftly integrating the United States, Iran, Israel, Turkey, Russia, and Saudi Arabia into the narrative.
Music for this season’s podcast was created by Fera...2025-01-181h 04
Eye For IranEye for Iran | Ep 21 | Israel has will and desire for long war with IranAfshon Ostovar, an associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and author of Wars of Ambition, joined Eye for Iran to discuss what a potential Iran-Israel war might entail. Ostovar explained that if Israel perceives an existential threat from Iran, it will likely have the will to pursue a prolonged conflict. He warned that as a war drags on, the risk of targeting nuclear facilities increases, potentially leading to radiation fallout. Ostovar emphasized that Iran must now confront the reality of provoking an existential threat for Israel, especially post-October 7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-10-2527 min
Eye For IranEye for Iran | Ep 21 | Israel has will and desire for long war with IranAfshon Ostovar, an associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and author of Wars of Ambition, joined Eye for Iran to discuss what a potential Iran-Israel war might entail. Ostovar explained that if Israel perceives an existential threat from Iran, it will likely have the will to pursue a prolonged conflict. He warned that as a war drags on, the risk of targeting nuclear facilities increases, potentially leading to radiation fallout. Ostovar emphasized that Iran must now confront the reality of provoking an existential threat for Israel, especially post-October 72024-10-2527 min
Let Your Ears Discover the Magic of Full AudiobookWars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East Audiobook by Afshon OstovarListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 755908
Title: Wars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East
Author: Afshon Ostovar
Narrator: Fajer Al-Kaisi
Format: Unabridged
Length: 13:33:58
Language: English
Release date: 08-01-24
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genres: History, Middle East, Military
Summary:
The September 11 attacks upended Americas relatively strong influence in the Middle East and prompted President George W. Bushs plan to remake the region through a war in Iraq. By bringing liberal democracy to Iraq, Bush hoped that the country would be a springboard for the spread of democracy to...2024-08-011h 33
Access Unmissable Full Audiobooks in History, MilitaryWars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East by Afshon OstovarPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/755908to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Wars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East
Author: Afshon Ostovar
Narrator: Fajer Al-Kaisi
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 13 hours 33 minutes
Release date: August 1, 2024
Genres: Military
Publisher's Summary:
The September 11 attacks upended America’s relatively strong influence in the Middle East and prompted President George W. Bush’s plan to remake the region through a war in Iraq. By bringing liberal democracy to Iraq, Bush hoped that the country would be a springboard for the spread of democracy to neighboring authoritarian states. Yet the war’...2024-08-011h 33
Access Unmissable Full Audiobooks in History, MilitaryWars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East by Afshon OstovarPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/755908 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Wars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East Author: Afshon Ostovar Narrator: Fajer Al-Kaisi Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 13 hours 33 minutes Release date: August 1, 2024 Genres: Military Publisher's Summary: The September 11 attacks upended America’s relatively strong influence in the Middle East and prompted President George W. Bush’s plan to remake the region through a war in Iraq. By bringing liberal democracy to Iraq, Bush hoped that the country would be a springboard for the spread of democracy to neighboring authoritarian states. Yet the...2024-08-0105 min
Chain ReactionThe Death Of Iranian President Ebrahim RaisiThe death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi this past weekend has prompted questions about the future of the Islamic Republic, the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in Iranian domestic politics, and succession race for Supreme Leader Khamenei. Afshon Ostovar, a FPRI Senior Fellow, joined FPRI President Aaron Stein to discuss the latest developments in Iran. Get full access to FPRI Insights at fpriinsights.substack.com/subscribe2024-05-2226 min
Live From America PodcastEpisode 319: Understanding IranThis Week's Guests:
Dr. Afshon Ostovar
Book:
https://www.amazon.com/Wars-Ambition-United-States-Struggle/dp/0190940980
Episode 319
"Rethink Production presents "Live From America Podcast" - a weekly show that combines political commentary with humor. Hosted by the comedy cellar owner Noam Dworman and producer Hatem Gabr, the show features expert guests discussing news, culture, and politics with a blend of knowledge and laughter.
Dr. Afshon Ostovar
is an Associate Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He is the author of the award-winning Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards, and...2024-05-141h 26
Talking StrategyQasim Soleimani and the Strategy of Militant Proxies with Dr Afshon OstovarQasim Soleimani was arguably Iran’s most important military leader in modern history. He moved Iran’s overall strategy from a direct approach to an indirect one of proxy warfare using non-state actors. Born in 1957, General Soleimani rose from a humble background to become a key commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His experience of the Iran–Iraq War of 1980–88 gave him a desire to avoid another high-casualty conflict. Instead, he developed a proxy war approach that was much less costly to Iran, using Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and later Hamas to put pressure on Israel and the...2024-02-2733 min
The Pivot by Globely NewsIran, the IRGC, and the Battle for the Middle EastAfshon Ostovar, an associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, joins host Arif Rafiq to discuss how Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) transformed from being a ragtag militia to a preeminent outside force in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the Middle East. They explore the IRGC’s network of partners, including the so-called Axis of Resistance, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in how IRGC leverages these groups as part of its strategy of asymmetric warfare against its adversaries and rivals, including the U.S. and Israel.
LEARN MORE:
Iran’s IRGC and th...2024-01-291h 17
The Round RoomMahsa Amini: The Decades-Long Fight for Women's Rights in IranIn this episode, we discuss the current revolution in Iran and provide historical context as to what is going on and why.
This podcast is hosted by Monica Rivera Sosa and Natalie Vasileff. To keep up with podcast updates, please follow us @theroundroompod on Instagram.
Please note that we also have this episode's transcript located in our Linktree which you can find on our Instargam page.
Sources for this episode:
1. De Witte, Melissa. “Understanding Protests in Iran.” Stanford News, 4 Oct. 2022, https://news.stanford.edu/2022/09/26/understanding-protests-iran/.
2. Engelbrecht, Cora, and Farnaz Fassihi...2022-11-2208 min
Chain ReactionTanker War 2.0: Iranian Strategy in the GulfThe Iranian government is accused of using a loitering munition to strike the tanker Mercer Street, killing two crew members. The attack is the latest incident at sea involving the Iranians and international shipping. To discuss Iranian strategy in the Persian Gulf, Aaron speaks with Afshon Ostovar, an Associate Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, about escalation dynamics and Iranian strategy. Get full access to FPRI Insights at fpriinsights.substack.com/subscribe2021-08-1032 min
Coming in From the Cold: Untold Stories from the Cold WarThe Last Shah of IranDr. Afshon Ostovar Associate Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and CNA’s Mike Connell join Bill to discuss the rise and fall of the Shah of Iran. Click here to visit our website and learn more about the participants. 2021-02-0248 min
Chain ReactionThe COVID-19 Crisis and the Implications for IranOn this week's Middle East Brief, Aaron speaks with Dr. Afshon Ostovar, an associate professor at Naval PostGraduate School and a Fox Fellow at FPRI, about Iran's response to the COVID-19 virus, its regional priorities, and what the future may entail for competition with the United States. Get full access to FPRI Insights at fpriinsights.substack.com/subscribe2020-04-0627 min
talk iranA Conversation with Afshon OstovarIn this episode, I speak with Afshon Ostovar, a historian, author and a foremost expert on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Afshon and I cover a lot of ground. We start by talking about the historical context around the IRGC, when and how it was started, its role in the Iran-Iraq war, how the organization evolved through the years, how it is different than Iran’s regular military, its Quds Force and the Islamic Republic’s foreign involvements, where Qasem Soleimani fit into the picture, his relationships with various Shia militia groups and other groups such as the Tali...2020-01-261h 02
Chain ReactionTensions in the Gulf: The Attack on Saudi ArabiaIran has been accused of firing cruise missiles and drones at oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, a close American partner, and the world's most important energy producer. The attack was the most audacious yet, in what has been a simmering indirect conflict between the Middle East's two largest powers. To discuss this situation, Aaron speaks with Dr. Afshon Ostovar, an assistant professor of national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and an FPRI Senior Fellow. Get full access to FPRI Insights at fpriinsights.substack.com/subscribe2019-09-2331 min
Chain ReactionSabotage in Fujairah: Iran and Escalation Dynamics in The Persian GulfTensions between Iran and the United States have escalated in the Persian Gulf. On this week's Middle East Brief, Afshon Ostovar, an assistant professor at the Naval Post Graduate School and FPRI Senior Fellow, joins the program to discuss the recent attack in Fujairah, U.S. policy towards Iran, and the potential for a U.S. - Iranian clash. Related Materials by Afshon Ostovar:"Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards" https://amzn.to/2LPtYYR"Iran, its clients, and the future of the Middle East: the limits of religion" ...2019-05-1631 min
POMEPS Middle East Political Science PodcastIran’s Revolutionary Guards: A Conversation with Afshon Ostovar (S. 5, Ep. 29)"The IRGC's powers are often exaggerated.... but on the flipside of that, I think it's also often dismissed— where particularly from the U.S. perspective, they see the IRGC as a convenient foil. How do we how do we make the case against Iran? We use the IRGC and all of its nefarious activities as an excuse," Afshon Ostovar said. "You see this in Yemen in particular, where there's countless articles that come out that say the IRGC is not important in Yemen... This sort of thing I think is also missing the point"
"It's hard to get them right, bu...2017-03-2019 min
The LoopcastVanguard of the ImamA discussion with Afshon Ostovar on his new book Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards.2016-04-271h 18
War on the RocksPODCAST: Around the World, Ep. 1At War on the Rocks, we are re-vamping our podcast series. We will be holding one podcast a week. The first of each month will be 'round the world. We will discuss the most pressing global security issues...over drinks of course. Have a listen! This week, we were joined by: Richard Fontaine, President of the Center for a New American Security Frank Hoffman, Senior Research Fellow at the National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies (all of his opinions are his own, of course, and not those of NDU, the Dept. of Defense, or the U.S. government...2015-08-041h 19
War on the RocksPODCAST: War on the Rocks goes to IstanbulFour members of the War on the Rocks squad ended up in Istanbul this week. What could go wrong? Afshon Ostovar of the CNA Corporation, Aaron Stein of RUSI, Joshua Walker of GMF, and Ryan Evans of your favorite outlet on strategy, defense, foreign policy, and booze join you from a lovely garden a stone’s throw from the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia to talk about the Turkish elections, the implications of the Iranian nuclear negotiations, Turkish-Iranian relations, the Syrian civil war, and Istanbul’s best watering holes. Have a listen!
The post PODCAST: War on th...2015-05-0737 min
War on the RocksPODCAST: War on the Rocks goes to IstanbulFour members of the War on the Rocks squad ended up in Istanbul this week. What could go wrong? Afshon Ostovar of the CNA Corporation, Aaron Stein of RUSI, Joshua Walker of GMF, and Ryan Evans of your favorite outlet on strategy, defense, foreign policy, and booze join you from a lovely garden a stone's throw from the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia to talk about the Turkish elections, the implications of the Iranian nuclear negotiations, Turkish-Iranian relations, the Syrian civil war, and Istanbul's best watering holes. Have a listen! 2015-05-0737 minWar on the RocksPodcast: In Search of a Middle East StrategySome of the sharpest minds on the Middle East in town sat down over drinks to tackle some of the most troublesome problems in the world’s most troublesome region. Have a listen! Soner Cagaptay is the Beyer Family fellow and director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He is the author of The Rise of Turkey. Ryan Evans is the editor-in-chief of War on the Rocks. Douglas A. Ollivant is a Senior National Security Fellow with the New America Foundation and the Senior Vice President of Mantid International, LLC. Afshon Ostovar is a se...2014-09-1954 min
War on the RocksPodcast: In Search of a Middle East StrategySome of the sharpest minds on the Middle East in town sat down over drinks to tackle some of the most troublesome problems in the world's most troublesome region. Have a listen! Soner Cagaptay is the Beyer Family fellow and director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He is the author of The Rise of Turkey. Ryan Evans is the editor-in-chief of War on the Rocks. Douglas A. Ollivant is a Senior National Security Fellow with the New America Foundation and the Senior Vice President of Mantid International, LLC. Afshon Ostovar is a senio...2014-09-1954 minWar on the RocksPODCAST: Pivoting around and around in the Middle EastLast night, some of Washington’s finest national security minds met me at the cabinet room in the Jefferson Hotel bar to talk shop. Elbridge Colby, William Rosenau, and Afshon Ostovar – all of the Center for Naval Analyses – were joined by surprise guests (“surprise” because they didn’t know they were meeting me for a podcast) Brian Fishman of the New America Foundation and Bill Braniff, the executive director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). We talked about President Obama’s and President Rouhani’s speeches at the United Nations, whether or not Rouhani’s ele...2013-09-251h 00
War on the RocksPODCAST: Pivoting around and around in the Middle EastLast night, some of Washington's finest national security minds met me at the cabinet room in the Jefferson Hotel bar to talk shop. Elbridge Colby, William Rosenau, and Afshon Ostovar - all of the Center for Naval Analyses - were joined by surprise guests ("surprise" because they didn't know they were meeting me for a podcast) Brian Fishman of the New America Foundation and Bill Braniff, the executive director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). We talked about President Obama's and President Rouhani's speeches at the United Nations, whether or not Rouhani's elec...2013-09-251h 00War on the RocksFirst WOTR Podcast: Bill Rosenau, Will McCants, and Afshon OstovarThe other day, I sat down with War on the Rocks contributors Bill Rosenau, Will McCants, and Afshon Ostovar – all of the Strategic Studies Center at the Center for Naval Analyses – for a conversation that ranged widely from Syria to Snowden to the think tank industry. We were hosted by the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC. Listen here:
The post First WOTR Podcast: Bill Rosenau, Will McCants, and Afshon Ostovar appeared first on War on the Rocks.2013-07-0847 min
War on the RocksFirst WOTR Podcast: Bill Rosenau, Will McCants, and Afshon OstovarThe other day, I sat down with War on the Rocks contributors Bill Rosenau, Will McCants, and Afshon Ostovar - all of the Strategic Studies Center at the Center for Naval Analyses - for a conversation that ranged widely from Syria to Snowden to the think tank industry. We were hosted by the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC. Listen here:2013-07-0847 min