Podcast / American Prestige / Jul 1, 2026

The History of Iran’s Nuclear Program—With Sina Azodi

Sina Azodi joins the show to trace the history of Iran’s nuclear program, from the shah and the NPT to the JCPOA, Trump, and the recent war.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

The History of Iran’s Nuclear Program w/ Sina Azodi / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Sina Azodi, assistant professor of Middle East politics and director of the Middle East Studies program at George Washington University, returns to the show to talk about Iran’s nuclear program. The group discusses the Shah’s nuclear agenda, Atoms for Peace, Iran’s signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, how the Iran-Iraq War influenced Iran’s nuclear policy, missed opportunities for diplomacy after 9/11, Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and why Biden didn’t revive the deal, and the recent war with Iran.

Grab a copy of Sina’s book Iran and the Bomb: The United States, Iran, and the Nuclear Question.

And contribute to ⁠GiveDirectly's campaign to help survivors of the earthquake in Venezuela⁠.

Note: In lieu of a news episode this week, we will be posting an interview relevant to the holiday.

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Anewspaper stall with a view of Etemad newspaper’s front page bearing a title reading in Farsi “The night of the end of the JCPOA.”

(Atta Kenare / AFP via Getty Images)

Sina Azodi, assistant professor of Middle East politics and director of the Middle East Studies program at George Washington University, returns to the show to talk about Iran’s nuclear program. The group discusses the shah’s nuclear agenda, Atoms for Peace; Iran’s signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; how the Iran-Iraq War influenced Iran’s nuclear policy; missed opportunities for diplomacy after 9/11; Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and why Biden didn’t revive the deal; and the recent war with Iran.

Grab a copy of Sina’s book Iran and the Bomb: The United States, Iran, and the Nuclear Question.

And contribute to ⁠GiveDirectly’s campaign to help survivors of the earthquake in Venezuela⁠.

Note: In lieu of a news episode this week, we will be posting an interview relevant to the holiday.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/subscribe.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

DRC Ebola Outbreak Surpasses 11,000 Cases, Nvidia CEO Resigns Amid Spy Allegations, Paraguay Impeaches President Peña / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek are taking tango lessons in preparation for the White House Ballroom launch. In this week’s news roundup: a climate update and the opening of COP31 in Turkey (1:04); Trump adopts a “forever war” posture on Iran (3:33); the U.S. plans to extend its blockade of Iran to land routes (7:59); winter storms kill displaced Palestinians in Gaza as Israel blocks shelter materials and continues its attacks (11:01); Israeli President Isaac Herzog selects Gadi Eizenkot to form a government (13:52); China extends its suspension of tariffs on U.S. goods (17:31); Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns amid Chinese espionage allegations and revelations of extramarital affairs (18:51); Sudan's military makes major gains in West Kordofan (22:00); the DRC's Ebola outbreak surpasses 11,000 confirmed cases (23:27), but Kenya discharges its last Ebola patient and begins the countdown to an Ebola-free declaration (25:44); U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials hold talks on a European security framework (26:41); hoax bomb threats disrupt flights and schools across Europe while French and U.S. authorities accuse Iranian hackers of cyberattacks on refrigeration systems (29:52); Paraguay's Senate removes President Santiago Peña from office (32:48); Salvadoran troops destroy the headquarters of Haiti's 400 Mawozo armed group (32:59); the U.S. military moves aircraft from a British airbase as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent relocates to a military base, both in response to alleged Iranian threats (37:39).

Watch last night's livestream⁠ with Sam Biddle on the Nvidia story.

Don't forget to subscribe to ⁠Welcome to the Crusades: The Second Crusade⁠!

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Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Daniel Bessner

Daniel Bessner is a historian of US foreign relations and is the author of, among other books, Imperialist Realism.

Derek Davison

Derek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.

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