Formidable US firepower fails to unseat Iran’s regime

Formidable US firepower fails to unseat Iran’s regime

From The Rachman Review by Financial Times

March 12, 2026 · 34 min

About this episode

Gideon Rachman discusses with Sir Simon Gass why US and Israeli military power has not succeeded in toppling Iran's regime.

Gideon speaks to Sir Simon Gass, a former UK ambassador to Iran, about why the formidable destructive power of the US and Israel has failed to dislodge the Islamic regime. They discuss how long the war can continue as well as likely outcomes for the US, Iran and the Gulf region. Clip: Middle East Eye Free links to read more on this topic: Trump’s Venezuela strategy has failed in Iran  Iranians rethink the price of regime change Iran official says new supreme leader is ‘fine’ despite absence from view Drones, lasers and radars: Middle East war spurs hunt for cheaper air defence Taco on Iran will come too late for Trump Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe. Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Sean McGarrity. Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social , @gideonrachman Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Gideon Rachman

Guest: Sir Simon Gass

Topics covered

  • US foreign policy
  • Iran
  • Middle East
  • war
  • geopolitics

Keywords

  • Iran
  • US
  • Israel
  • regime change
  • geopolitics
  • Middle East

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Financial Times, Middle East Eye

Places: Iran, US, Israel, Gulf region

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