What was it actually like for ordinary Iranian families during the recent 12-day war with Israel, cut off from phone and internet contact with the outside world while missiles fell on their cities? On this episode of the Kianistan Podcast, host Tafhim Kiani speaks with Hooman Majd, an Iranian-American author, journalist, and NBC News contributor with an extraordinary personal connection to Iran’s political history, for an intimate, on-the-ground perspective few Western commentators can offer.

Majd, whose grandfather was a prominent religious cleric and philosopher and whose father served as a diplomat under the Shah, has personally served as an interpreter for two Iranian presidents during their visits to the United States. He opens by describing the harrowing early days of the war, when Iran’s government shut down international phone lines to prevent enemy communication, leaving the Iranian diaspora unable to reach worried family members back home.

The conversation moves through a careful, nuanced examination of Iranian public opinion during the conflict, exploring how even government critics rallied around national defense while carefully distinguishing this from genuine support for the regime itself. Majd offers a particularly compelling explanation of why Iran’s insistence on uranium enrichment is about far more than nuclear weapons, tracing the issue back to deep-seated concerns about energy sovereignty and historical humiliation at the hands of Western powers.

This episode offers a rare, humanizing, and deeply informed window into contemporary Iranian society, culture, and politics from someone with genuinely unmatched personal access to the country’s history and people.

Key Topics Discussed

Cut Off From Family During the War

Majd opens with a personal account of the communication blackout Iran imposed during the early days of the conflict and its impact on families in the diaspora.

• The Iranian government shut down international phone access to prevent enemy espionage communication
• Internet access was also severely restricted or slowed during the most intense periods of the war
• Majd describes the acute stress of being unable to confirm his family’s safety during this period

Rallying for the Homeland, Not the Regime

Majd offers a carefully nuanced account of Iranian public sentiment during the war, distinguishing national solidarity from political endorsement of the government.

• Even activists and former political prisoners publicly committed to defending the homeland against foreign attack
• Majd draws a direct parallel to the surge of American patriotism following the September 11th attacks
• He argues this response reflects a predictable pattern of nationalism overriding domestic political grievances during external attack

Why Iran Insists on Uranium Enrichment

One of the episode’s most detailed segments addresses why Iran has been unwilling to abandon its enrichment program despite the enormous costs involved.

• Iran has long argued for energy independence, citing concerns about eventually depleting its oil and gas reserves
• Historical experience being refused nuclear fuel by other countries reinforced the perceived need for domestic enrichment capability
• Majd connects this to America’s own pursuit of energy independence following the 1973 oil crisis

What Was the War Actually About?

Majd offers his own assessment of Israel’s underlying motivations, arguing the conflict was less about preventing an imminent nuclear weapon than about preserving strategic dominance.

• He argues Israeli and US intelligence consistently indicated Iran was not actively pursuing a weapon
• He frames the war as primarily aimed at preventing Iran from achieving broader strategic parity with Israel
• He notes the timing coincided suspiciously with promising, ongoing US-Iran diplomatic negotiations

Did the War Actually Weaken Iran?

The conversation examines the paradoxical short and long-term consequences of the conflict for Iran’s regional position.

• Majd acknowledges genuine short-term military and psychological damage to Iran
• He argues the war may ultimately strengthen Iran’s resolve to develop more advanced defense capabilities
• He suggests growing domestic support could emerge for Iran eventually pursuing an actual nuclear deterrent

American Public Opinion on US Involvement

Majd shares insight into how the American public, across the political spectrum, responded to direct US military involvement in the conflict.

• Polling consistently showed majority opposition to US involvement both before and after the strikes occurred
• He notes even some prominent conservative politicians publicly opposed American intervention
• He suggests Trump calibrated the strikes carefully to avoid triggering a much longer, more costly war

Religiosity and Everyday Life in Iran

The episode closes with a candid discussion of religious practice in contemporary Iranian society, challenging common Western assumptions about the country.

• Majd describes largely empty mosques during the week, with modest attendance even at Friday prayers
• He explains that private religious devotion remains meaningful for many Iranians without public displays
• He argues Iran’s Persian cultural character is often more visible to visitors than overt Islamic religiosity

Major Takeaways

• Iran’s wartime communication blackout left diaspora families unable to confirm loved ones’ safety
• Iranians broadly rallied to defend their homeland during the war without necessarily endorsing the regime itself
• Iran’s insistence on uranium enrichment reflects deep concerns about long-term energy sovereignty, not solely weapons ambitions
• Majd frames the war as primarily aimed at preserving Israeli strategic dominance rather than preventing an imminent nuclear threat
• The conflict may paradoxically strengthen Iran’s long-term resolve to develop more advanced defense capabilities
• Most Americans opposed direct US military involvement both before and after the strikes took place

About Hooman Majd

Hooman Majd is an Iranian-American author, journalist, and contributor to NBC News, known for his insightful writing on Iranian politics and culture. He has served as an interpreter for two Iranian presidents during official visits to the United States and comes from a family with deep ties to Iran’s religious and diplomatic establishment. He has authored three books on Iran, with a new memoir forthcoming.

• Iranian-American author, journalist, and NBC News contributor
• Served as an interpreter for two Iranian presidents during US visits
• Author of three books on Iranian politics and culture, with a new memoir forthcoming

About Kianistan Podcast

Kianistan Podcast, hosted by Tafhim Kiani, is dedicated to offering listeners genuine, humanizing insight into the countries and communities most often reduced to political abstractions in mainstream coverage. This conversation with Hooman Majd, drawing on his rare personal and family connections to Iran’s political history, exemplifies Kianistan’s ongoing commitment to bringing depth, nuance, and lived experience to conversations about one of the world’s most consequential and misunderstood countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Iran cut off international phone service during the war?

According to Majd, the Iranian government restricted international communication to prevent foreign intelligence agents and Israeli-linked operatives from coordinating within the country during the conflict.

Did Iranians support their government during the war?

Majd explains that Iranians broadly rallied to defend their homeland against foreign attack, a response he compares to post-9/11 American patriotism, without this necessarily reflecting genuine political support for the regime itself.

Why does Iran insist on enriching its own uranium?

Majd traces this to long-standing concerns about energy sovereignty, historical refusals by other countries to supply nuclear fuel, and a broader desire for independence from Western energy dependency, comparable to America’s own post-1973 pursuit of energy independence.

Did most Americans support US strikes on Iran?

No. Majd notes that polling consistently showed majority opposition to US military involvement both before and after the strikes, including opposition from some prominent conservative politicians.

Conclusion

Hooman Majd’s conversation offers listeners something genuinely rare: an intimate, humanizing account of what life inside Iran actually looked like during a moment of acute national crisis, delivered by someone with unmatched personal and family ties to the country’s political history. His nuanced explanation of Iranian public sentiment, energy sovereignty, and the war’s true strategic motivations cuts through much of the surrounding noise.

As Iran continues to navigate the aftermath of this extraordinary conflict, Majd’s perspective offers listeners a valuable reminder that behind every geopolitical headline are millions of ordinary families simply trying to stay safe and connected to those they love.

Thank you for listening to this episode of the Kianistan Podcast. Subscribe for more personal, deeply informed conversations exploring Iran and the broader Middle East.

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