Did Israel’s 12-day war against Iran achieve anything beyond making an eventual Iranian nuclear weapon more likely? And why do even Iranians who despise their own government say they would now defend a bomb?

In this episode of the Kianistan Podcast, host Tafhim Kiani speaks with Hooman Majd, Iranian-American author, journalist, and political analyst, recorded in the immediate aftermath of the Israel-Iran war.

Drawing on a family history that spans Iranian diplomacy and religious scholarship, and his own years reporting from inside Iran, Majd offers a rare, grounded account of how ordinary Iranians experienced the war — and why it may have hardened rather than weakened the country’s resolve.

The conversation covers wartime life inside Iran, the real motivation behind Israel’s attack, the collapsing credibility of the former Shah’s son, and why Iran’s insistence on uranium enrichment runs far deeper than nuclear ambition alone.

Key Topics Discussed

Life During the War: How Iranian Families Coped

Majd opens with a personal account of what the 12 days of bombing actually looked like for civilians.

The discussion explores:

• How Iran’s government cut phone and internet access to block foreign infiltration
• Civilian infrastructure damage, including a struck water main in northern Tehran
• Why more than 400 Iranian civilians died despite Israeli claims of avoiding civilian targets

Did the War Unite Iranians Behind Their Government?

Majd draws a careful distinction between rallying around the regime and rallying around the homeland.

Topics include:

• Why even jailed activists and regime critics said they would defend Iran against foreign attack
• The parallel Majd draws to post-9/11 America and George W. Bush’s approval ratings
• Growing anger at Iran’s own security services for failing to detect Israeli infiltration
• Why many Iranians may now back a nuclear weapon as a deterrent, regardless of their views on the regime

Why Israel Really Attacked: Strategic Parity, Not Just Nuclear Fears

Majd argues the war was less about preventing a bomb than about power balance in the region.

• Why Iran had no reason to rush toward a nuclear weapon given IAEA and US intelligence assessments
• Israel’s goal of reducing Iran’s “strategic parity” built through Hezbollah, Hamas, and Syria
• How the timing coincided with a nearly finalized US-Iran diplomatic breakthrough
• Why weakening Iran, not regime change, was the more realistic Israeli objective

Trump’s Role and America’s Involvement

The conversation turns to Washington’s calculated, limited intervention.

• Why most Americans, including some Republicans, opposed US involvement before the strikes
• Trump’s pattern of declaring victory and moving on, as seen with the Houthi campaign
• The likely choreography behind Iran’s warning to the US before striking a base in Qatar
• Why Trump had strong incentive to position himself as the war’s peacemaker

Why Iran Insists on Uranium Enrichment

Majd lays out the layered reasoning behind Iran’s refusal to give up enrichment entirely.

• Iran’s long-standing argument for energy independence, dating back to the Shah’s era
• How past refusals by other nations to supply fuel rods pushed Iran to enrich uranium itself
• Why enrichment functions as leverage as much as a technical necessity
• The nationalist principle that Iran should have the same NPT rights as any other signatory

The Fading Relevance of Reza Pahlavi

The discussion turns to the son of Iran’s last Shah, and his declining standing.

• Why his visit to Israel and meeting with Netanyahu cost him support inside Iran
• His failure to publicly condemn Israeli strikes on Iranian civilians
• Why regime change is not realistically on the horizon

Religion, Society, and Iran’s Quiet Faith

The episode closes on a broader cultural picture of religiosity inside Iran.

• Why Tehran’s mosques remain largely empty outside of dedicated worshippers
• The Iranian preference for private, personal religious practice over public displays
• How Iranian views of Saudi Arabia have grown more favorable in recent years

Major Takeaways

• Israel’s war unified Iranians around the homeland, even among government critics, rather than triggering an uprising.
• The strikes appear to have strengthened rather than weakened public support for a nuclear deterrent.
• Majd argues the war’s real objective was reducing Iran’s regional strategic parity, not preventing a bomb.
• Iran’s insistence on uranium enrichment reflects decades of energy-independence policy as much as leverage.
• Reza Pahlavi’s alignment with Israel has significantly damaged what little domestic credibility he had.
• Iranian religiosity tends to be private and personal rather than publicly enforced or performed.

About Hooman Majd

Hooman Majd is an Iranian-American author, journalist, and political analyst based in New York City, born in Tehran. His grandfather was a prominent religious cleric and philosopher, and his father served as a diplomat under the Shah’s government. He has served as an interpreter for Iranian presidents Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during visits to the United States.

His work focuses on:

• Iranian Politics and Culture
• US-Iran Relations
• Journalism and Foreign Affairs Writing
• Author of “The Ayatollah Begs to Differ,” “The Ayatollah’s Democracy,” and “The Ministry of Guidance Invites You to Not Stay”

About Kianistan Podcast

Hosted by Tafhim Kiani, the Kianistan Podcast features conversations with leading academics, journalists, and analysts on the conflicts reshaping the Middle East and the wider world. This episode offers a rare, grounded perspective on how the Israel-Iran war was experienced inside Iran itself.

Topics regularly include:

• Iran
• Israel
• United States
• Middle East
• Nuclear Policy
• International Relations
• World Politics

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Hooman Majd?

Hooman Majd is an Iranian-American author, journalist, and political analyst who has written extensively about Iranian politics and culture, and previously served as an interpreter for Iranian presidents during visits to the US.

Did the Israel-Iran war unite Iranians behind their government?

According to Majd, Iranians rallied around their homeland rather than necessarily around the regime itself, with even government critics saying they would defend the country against foreign attack.

Why does Majd believe Israel attacked Iran?

Majd argues the primary motivation was reducing Iran’s strategic parity with Israel, built through its regional allies, rather than genuinely preventing an imminent nuclear weapon.

Why is Iran so insistent on uranium enrichment?

Iran views domestic enrichment capability as essential to energy independence and as leverage in negotiations, rooted in past experiences of being refused nuclear fuel by other countries.

Conclusion

Hooman Majd’s account offers a rare, humanizing window into how ordinary Iranians experienced a war fought largely over questions of regional power rather than nuclear weapons alone.

From wartime communication blackouts to the growing appeal of nuclear deterrence, this conversation makes clear that Israel’s campaign may have achieved the opposite of its intended effect.

Whether you’re interested in Iranian society, US-Iran relations, or the future of nuclear diplomacy, this episode is essential listening.

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