Iran Is EXPLODING: Dr Iraj Abidyan Warns SA’s Iran “Friendship” Will Backfire HARD

South Africa’s leadership keeps talking about “principle” and “multilateralism” — but those words mean nothing if we align with regimes accused of crimes against humanity. In this episode, economist Dr Iraj Abidyan explains what’s unfolding inside Iran, why the current uprising looks different, and why South Africa’s relationship with the Iranian regime could come back to haunt us politically and economically.

✅ In this episode we cover:

Iran’s protests: why this wave is larger and more dangerous for the regime than previous uprisings

The regime’s legitimacy collapse: how repeated crackdowns created a “regime must go” moment

The economic trigger: currency collapse, inflation shock, shortages, and why it spread across society

Iran’s proxy strategy: Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen — and how resources were drained from ordinary Iranians

The regional power struggle: Iran vs Saudi Arabia and the fight for dominance in the Islamic world

The history that still shapes Iran: the Shah, reforms, repression, and the Mossadegh coup legacy

Trump’s “Iran next” posture: why confrontation looks increasingly likely (and what the US must decide)

South Africa’s Iran problem: naval exercises, diplomatic alignment, and reputational blowback

The MTN angle: business, influence, and why future Iranian leadership may revisit complicity claims

The core warning: actions have consequences — and SA must “box smart” with global power


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Chapters:

00:00 Intro + why the world changed (Venezuela → Iran)
00:25 Sponsor: Pace Car Rental (Code: SONA)
01:14 Guest intro: Dr Iraj Abidyan
01:40 What’s happening in Iran right now
06:10 Theocracy vs the Iranian public: two identities in conflict
11:19 The Shah: reforms, growth, and why he lost legitimacy
17:08 Mossadegh + the 1953 coup and anti-Western backlash
21:32 Iran vs the Arab world: history, identity, and today’s hostility
27:26 Why this protest is different from past uprisings
31:09 Resources wasted: proxies, missiles, nuclear ambitions vs basic needs
33:41 Currency collapse trigger: sanctions, inflation shock, shortages
38:36 Why SA suddenly got close to Iran (ANC ideology + MTN + deals)
47:42 The ICJ / funding speculation: what’s known vs what’s not
52:18 Trump says “Iran next”: does the US act militarily?
58:11 SA’s risk exposure: naval exercises + consequences for trade/diplomacy
59:11 Warning: future Iranian leadership may target SA/MTN for complicity
1:04:53 Closing + sponsor reminder + subscribe