Yesterday, the world got a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Iran’s leadership, in the form of a leaked recording from an interview Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif gave two months after the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani last year. In it, Zarif can be heard complaining how he had “zero” influence over Iran’s foreign policy, and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps actually calls the shots. Host Marco Werman speaks with Arash Azizi, a historian at New York University, who recently published a book called “The Shadow Commander: Soleimani, the US, and Iran’s Global Ambitions.”
The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.
Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.