The Iranian Leviathan Loses Its Head

The podcast analyzes the geopolitical implications of the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, particularly following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. It questions whether the operation aims for genuine regime change or merely a "change in behavior," like the situation in Venezuela. Marko argues that the U.S. seeks regime calibration rather than full transformation, pointing to past interventions in Iraq, Syria, and Libya that yielded unstable results. Jacob raises concerns about the Saudis' potential support for the strikes and Iran's capacity for asymmetric warfare, particularly through drone attacks on global shipping. They debate whether Iran's actions reflect limited capabilities or a deliberate strategy, and discuss the potential for civil war and the implications for U.S. foreign policy in a multipolar world.