What is Iran’s military and political strategy now that it has struck back against Israel’s illegal bombing of its embassy, and with another cycle of escalation looming? Israel’s strikes killed over a dozen people, including two Iranian generals, while Iran’s response produced no casualties. Why is Israel escalating? What does global public opinion look like towards the U.S. Empire on one side and the “Axis of Resistance” on the other? What consequences could the U.S. face in the region if Israel strikes again?

Brian Becker is joined by Prof. Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies and postcolonial literature who teaches at the University of Tehran.

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Iran Doesn’t Want Larger War with Israel But is Ready For It w/ Prof. Mohammad Marandi

Ali Berkok is a pianist, composer and sound designer. Moving into his third decade as a performing pianist, he has produced six albums as a leader for improvising outfit Arkana Music, and his current quartet, Aurochs. His solo piano album, Never Get Lost for Long, features reinvented jazz standards (“Cheek to Cheek,” Coltrane’s “Giant Steps”) and spontaneous extemporized compositions. Film credits include a new score for Battleship Potemkin, and Advances (Thought4Food). Berkok’s sound design and composition credits for theatre include Carol Shields’ 13 Hands (Alumnae), Marina & The Cryptids (Silent Protagonist), What I Call Her (Crows) and Unsafe (Canadian Stage). Chief amongst his research interests is polytemporality, the simultaneous presence of two or more asynchronous rhythmic layers, for creative effects such as destabilizing listeners’ sense of pulse. Berkok holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Toronto.

News and views about the world for those who want to change it, with Brian Becker

Iran Doesn’t Want Larger War with Israel But is Ready For It w/ Prof. Mohammad Marandi

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker