As we kick off 2026, the Iranian regime finds itself at its most vulnerable point in 47 years. Following the devastating “12-Day War” that exposed the regime’s military weakness, and amidst a crushing economic collapse, the Iranian people are rising up with renewed courage.

In this episode of Misgav Mideast Horizons, hosts Lahav Harkov and Asher Fredman are joined by Mehrdad Marty Yousefiani, an Iranian-American strategic communications expert and former chief strategic counselor to Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. Drawing on his deep ties to actors on the ground and in the Iranian diaspora, Marty takes us inside the current protests, explaining why this wave is fundamentally different from the past – and what the Day After could look like.

In the opening segment, Lahav and Asher take stock of the start of 2026—looking at Israel’s surprising economic and societal resilience, the political and demographic debates shaping the year ahead, and the fast-moving regional dynamics that are putting Tehran under unprecedented pressure.

Topics Discussed:

• The “Emperor Has No Clothes”: How Israel’s air superiority during the “12-Day War” shattered the regime’s image of power.
• It’s the Economy: Why the collapse of the rial and the “Bazaar strikes” are posing an existential threat to the Ayatollahs.
• The “Do No Harm” Doctrine: Marty’s critical advice for President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu on how to support the Iranian people without tainting their movement.
• The Day After: Visions of a pluralistic, democratic Iran and the restoration of “fraternal relations” with Israel.
• Israel at 2026: Lahav and Asher analyze Israel’s economic success—boasting a $64k GDP per capita—and the internal political shifts as the country moves past the war.

Don’t miss this insider’s look at the crumbling of the Iranian regime and what a free Iran could mean for the entire Middle East.