In this episode of Wise Women with Daisy Khan, Dr. Daisy Khan sits down with Iranian-American author and Middle East expert Banafsheh Keynoush for an urgent discussion about the escalating Iran-Israel conflict that threatens global stability. As tensions reach a breaking point, Keynoush provides insider knowledge about Iran's nuclear capabilities, the religious fatwa against nuclear weapons, and why most Iranians actually support America despite decades of sanctions. Discover the real story behind Iran's 85 million people, their ethnic diversity, and why this ancient civilization has never been colonized. Learn about the failed nuclear negotiations, the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, and how environmental disasters could devastate the entire Persian Gulf region. Keynoush explains Iran's underground missile capabilities, the succession plans for leadership, and why regime change through military action may backfire completely. This analysis goes beyond headlines to examine realistic scenarios for de-escalation, the role of Saudi Arabia and other regional powers, and what both Trump and Iranian leadership need to understand to prevent catastrophic war. Get the expert perspective on whether diplomacy can still prevail before it's too late.
Banafsheh Keynoush, Ph.D. Fellow | Kroc Center for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame Non-Resident Scholar | Middle East Institute Author | "The Abraham Accords: National Security, Regional Order and Popular Representation"; “Saudi Arabia and Iran: Friends or Foes?”; “The World Powers and Iran: Before, During and After the Nuclear Deal” Authored Reports | “Revolutionary Iran’s Africa Policy”; “Red Sea Peace Initiatives: Saudi Arabia’s Role in the Ethiopia-Eritrea Rapprochement”.