
The War Against Iran’s Jihadis: What’s Xi Got to Do With It?
From FDD's Foreign Podicy by FDD, Cliff May
March 6, 2026 · 1h 3m
About this episode
Cliff May discusses the long-standing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, exploring the potential involvement of China in the ongoing tensions.
For nearly half a century, Iran’s rulers have promised “Death to America.” It wasn’t just a chant — it was a policy. From the 1979 hostage crisis to terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of Americans, the Islamic Republic has spent decades waging a shadow war against the United States. Now Washington is confronting Iran’s jihadist regime more directly — raising a larger question: what role might Xi Jinping’s China play in the conflict? Cliff May sits down with former Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd to examine the long war against Tehran’s jihadist rulers — and why Beijing may have more at stake than many realize.
People in this episode
Host: Cliff May
Guest: David Shedd
Topics covered
- Iran
- China
- Jihadism
- U.S. foreign policy
- Terrorism
- Geopolitics
Keywords
- Iran
- China
- Jihadism
- U.S. foreign policy
- Terrorism
- Geopolitics
- David Shedd
- Cliff May
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Iran, China, United States, Islamic Republic
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