About "The Iran Crisis" project
On February 25, 2026, Just World Ed launched a series of timely conversations on “The Iran Crisis.” These convos constitute Part 2 of the ongoing project on “Gaza and the World,” which JWE first launched in late 2025. You can find the records of Part 1 of the Gaza project, here.
We've been releasing videos of the convos in the "Iran Conflict" series at or before Noon ET on each of the listed days on Just World Ed’s YouTube page. For audio listeners, we've released them on our channels on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Buzzsprout. We also create and share a full transcript of each convo.
As of late May, our conversations have covered numerous different aspects of this crisis including:
- the flow of military actions by ground, sea, and air;
- international law implications of the Israeli-U.S. aggression on Iran;
- the impact for the Gulf (Khalij) region, and West Asia more broadly;
- interactions between the U.S.-Israeli aggression on Iran and U.S.-supported Israeli aggressions against Lebanon and Palestine; and
- impact of the aggression on geopolitics and geo-economics.
On this Online Learning Hub you can find the multimedia records of all these conversations. We are exploring how we might compile the transcripts of the first eleven sessions (through the conclusion of the April 8 ceasefire) into a useful print publication, or create other forms of compilation of lasting value from these very rich records.
As always, we make all these learning resources available to the public at no cost. But of course, producing these resources costs money, so we'd be very appreciative of any support you can give us! Click on this link to learn how to do so.
Thank you!
These materials are published here under a Creative Commons license. This means you are free to re-use any of them for non-commercial purposes, provided you give due attribution to Just World Educational and the individual speakers/contributors, and quote from any materials here in a fair and objective manner. If you want to use any of these materials for commercial purposes, please contact Rights@justworldeducational.org to ask about terms.
Convos
Episode 1: Elijah Magnier
Feb 25, 2026
Host and JWE President Helena Cobban in conversation with Elijah Magnier.
Find the audio recording here or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Find the transcript here.
Episode 2: Bill Quandt
Feb 26, 2026
Host and JWE President Helena Cobban in conversation with Bill Quandt.
Find the audio recording here or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Find the transcript here.
Episode 3: Ray McGovern
Feb 27, 2026
Host and JWE President Helena Cobban in conversation with Ray McGovern.
Find the audio recording here or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Find the transcript here.
Episode 4: Elijah Magnier
March 2, 2026
Host and JWE President Helena Cobban in conversation with Elijah Magnier.
Find the audio recording here or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Find the transcript here.
Episode 5: Rami G. Khouri
March 3, 2026
Host and JWE President Helena Cobban in conversation with Rami G. Khouri.
Find the audio recording here or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Find the transcript here.
Episode 6: Amb. Chas Freeman
March 4, 2026
Host and JWE President Helena Cobban in conversation with Amb. Chas Freeman.
Find the audio recording here or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Find the transcript here.
Episode 7: Barbara Slavin on Trump’s “cosmic roll of the dice” in Iran
March 5, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Stimson Center Distinguished Fellow Barbara Slavin.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
Episode 8: Thoughts from Helena Cobban on Day 21 of the War
March 20, 2026
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
Episode 9: Vijay Prashad on linkages of Iran War with Gaza, Lebanon, & Globally
March 24, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Tricontinental Director Vijay Prashad.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
Episode 10: Amb. Chas Freeman on the China-Pakistan Peace Initiative
April 1, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Amb. Chas Freeman.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #11: Indi Samarajiva on the Impact of the Week's Tumultuous Events
April 9, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Indi Samarajiva.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #12: Rami Zurayk on Israel's Ongoing Assault Against Lebanon
April 12, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Rami Zurayk.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #13: Mouin Rabbani on West Asia-Wide and Global Implications of Recent U.S. Moves
April 17, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Mouin Rabbani.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran crisis #14: Trita Parsi on the Prospects, Dynamics, as Ceasefire End Approaches
April 21, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Trita Parsi.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Download the transcript here.
Iran Crisis #15: Dr. Moeed Pirzada on Pakistan’s Role and Fears of Renewed Conflict
April 23, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Dr. Moeed Pirzada.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #16: Helena Cobban on Hormuz and 5,000 Years of Strategic Power
April 27, 2026
Click on the link above for the full video.
Find a summary of the convo here,
and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #17: Richard Falk on his Meeting with Khomeini, International Law & More
April 29, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Prof. Richard Falk.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #18: Ray McGovern on Araghchi in Russia, U.S. & Israeli Naval Piracy & More
May 1, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Ray McGovern.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #19: Maryam Jamshidi on international law regarding Hormuz, and prospects for peace
May 7, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Maryam Jamshidi.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #20: John Ross on China’s Role & the War's Geopolitical and Geoeconomic Salience
May 9, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with John Ross.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #21: Mahdi Mohebirad on International Law, Sanctions, and Citizen Activism
May 12, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Mahdi Mohebirad.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here, and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
The Iran Crisis #22: Dr. Yingnan ("Chris") Yi on China's role, regionally and globally
May 20, 2026
JWE president Helena Cobban, in conversation with Dr. Yingnan Yi.
Click on the link above for the full video. Find a summary of the convo here,
and the audio recording on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download the transcript here.
Overall Resources
Participants in "Gaza & the World"
Helena Cobban
Elijah Magnier
Bill Quandt
Ray McGovern
Rami Khouri
Chas Freeman
Barbara Slavin
Vijay Prashad
Indi Samarajiva
Rami Zurayk
Mouin Rabbani
Trita Parsi
Moeed Pirzada
Richard Falk
Maryam Jamshidi
John Ross
Mahdi Mohebirad
Yingnan Yi
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