Amanpour — "The View from Inside Iran"
Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Bianna Golodryga (CNN International, sitting in for Christiane Amanpour)
Key Guests: Hadi Khaimi (Center for Human Rights in Iran), Maria Ressa (Nobel Laureate, CEO of Rappler), Brian Mann (NPR), Nick Robertson (CNN), Hari Sreenivasan (interviewer)
Episode Overview
This episode focuses on Iran’s rapidly evolving internal crisis amidst its international nuclear negotiations and a brutal crackdown on dissent. Human rights activist Hadi Khaimi provides an on-the-ground perspective of the regime’s violence and the hopes for change within Iran. The show also examines the intersection of global sports and politics at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and delves deep into press freedom, narrative warfare, and the dangers facing institutions under President Trump’s second administration, as discussed with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa.
Iran: Brutal Crackdown & Prospects for Change
Setting the Stage: Crisis and Crackdown
[01:04–03:59]
- Backdrop: US and Iranian diplomats held indirect nuclear talks in Oman amid heightening military threats and a fresh crackdown on dissent in Iran.
- Recent Atrocities: Over 7,000 Iranians confirmed dead, 50,000 detained, hundreds of children killed following the regime’s massacre of protesters in January.
- Notable Quote:
"There is no one in Iran anymore, even within the regime's loyalists, who can honestly tell themselves that this government represents any segment of the country."
— Hadi Khaimi [03:59]
Regime Resilience and International Stakes
[06:05–08:52]
- The regime persists despite weakened proxies, a crippled nuclear program, and possible US decapitation strategies against leadership.
- Khaimi's View: Change in Iran can only occur with robust international action: activating the UN Security Council, international court referrals, oil embargoes (especially targeting sales to China), diplomatic isolation, and suspending Iran’s participation in global organizations.
- Quote:
"We need to activate the Security Council... start referrals to the International Criminal Court... cut off oil revenue... isolate it on every front."
— Hadi Khaimi [07:25]
Targeting Protesters & Calls for Opposition Unity
[09:41–12:17]
- Khaimi recounts routine human rights abuses (strip searches, home raids, targeted violence against dissenters).
- Role of Opposition: A unified opposition, comprising both domestic and diaspora voices (including reformists and figures like Reza Pahlavi), is deemed crucial for any transition.
- Quote:
"We need all political figures and their political persuasions come together so Islamic Republic cannot isolate and deactivate them..."
— Hadi Khaimi [11:35]
Ongoing Political Arrests & President Pezeshkian’s Role
[13:19–15:06]
- Reformists’ arrests are seen as moves to prevent the formation of a broad-based opposition.
- President Pezeshkian is described as "confused and conflicted," complicit in regime crimes, lacking courage to oppose Supreme Leader Khamenei.
- Quote:
"I see him implicated in the massacre that happened and as one of the perpetrators of crimes against humanity."
— Hadi Khaimi [15:00]
International Diplomacy: US, Israel, and the Iranian People
[16:05–19:05]
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu travels to Washington to push US negotiators on a tougher stance.
- Khaimi stresses that nuclear negotiations focus on regime interests, not the Iranian people, and calls for representation of actual citizens in talks.
- Quote:
"The nuclear issue is not the Iranian people's issue. The nuclear issue is the Islamic Republic's card..."
— Hadi Khaimi [16:53] - Khaimi clarifies he does not support public meetings between Trump and opposition figureheads; rather, he calls for coalition-building and international recognition.
[24:05–39:48]
The Winter Olympics: Sports Amid Political Turmoil
Olympic Achievements and Tragedies
[24:05–29:06]
- Highlights of the Milan Cortina Games, including achievements by Dutch speed skaters and American duo in curling.
- American figure skater Maxine Naumov's return after losing his parents in a plane crash draws widespread support.
- Brian Mann: Describes the Olympic community rallying around bereaved athletes and addressing mental health.
Gender Equity & Athlete Activism
[30:56–32:23]
- This Olympics: most gender-representative ever (47% women competitors); women reach parity in cross-country distances.
- Protests continue as women are still barred from Nordic Combined.
Politics, Protest, and Presidential Reaction
[24:47–38:33]
- US team members, including freestyle skier Hunter Hess, speak out on US political turmoil and policies; President Trump responds with derision on social media.
- Dissident voices (e.g., chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov) contextualize American protest in global context — athletes in authoritarian regimes cannot freely criticize their states.
- Quote:
"Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S. I just kind of want to do it for my friends and family..."
— Hunter Hess [24:47] - Chloe Kim: "We are allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on... We need to lead with love and compassion..." [35:45]
- Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Hrastkovich challenges IOC policy by wearing a banned helmet honoring fallen athletes, backed by President Zelensky.
Israel, Annexation, and Middle East Tensions
West Bank Crackdown
[21:20–24:05]
- Israel intensifies measures in the West Bank, drawing condemnation from key Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
- Context: These same nations once cautiously backed Trump's (now-stalled) Gaza "20-point peace plan."
[40:14–54:39]
Press Freedom & Narrative Warfare in Trump’s America
Maria Ressa on Authoritarian Tactics and Information Manipulation
[40:54–47:22]
- Ressa draws chilling parallels between Trump's administration and Rodrigo Duterte's tactics, warning of "narrative warfare" — the instrumental use of executive orders, social media virality, and influencer-driven mis/disinformation to sow confusion and erode democratic institutions.
- Quote:
"A lie told a million times becomes a fact. If people believe lies are facts, then you can control them."
— Maria Ressa [42:23] - TikTok and social media creators, not journalists, drive news engagement, turning complex issues into spectacle and memes.
Dismantling Institutions & The Role of Tech
[47:22–54:35]
- Ressa criticizes Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg for being "the bigger dictator" — their platforms enable and profit from de-contextualized, divisive, and often dangerous content.
- The result: declining trust, civic disengagement, unchecked executive power.
- Quote:
"The bigger dictator in how to stand up to a dictator was Mark Zuckerberg... He determines what billions of people see and feel."
— Maria Ressa [47:39]
What’s Needed Next?
- Ressa insists the crisis is not a “free speech” issue, but one of safety, citizen protection, and democratic survival.
- Outlines a three-pronged reform agenda:
- End surveillance-for-profit.
- Stop coded bias.
- Strengthen journalism as a check on power.
- Quote:
"If you don't have facts, you can't have truth. Without truth, you can't have trust... You can't have democracy."
— Maria Ressa [43:44]
Closing: Stories of Resilience & Unity
[54:42–55:47]
- Uplifting end segment: Buddhist monks complete a cross-country “Walk for Peace”, emphasizing the multiplying nature of compassion and joy in the face of division.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Hadi Khaimi: "The regime we knew was brutal, but now its criminal side has shown that it is ideologically committed to perpetrating atrocities that none of us really expected." [04:18]
- Hunter Hess: "It brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now. I think it's a little hard... Just because I’m wearing the flag, doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on." [24:47]
- Chloe Kim: "We are allowed to voice our opinions... I think we need to lead with love and compassion." [35:45]
- Maria Ressa: "We are living through an information Armageddon. In order to make democracy work, we need a shared reality." [43:22]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [03:59] Hadi Khaimi describes Iran’s collective anger and despair after January massacre
- [07:25] Khaimi: International community must act to choke regime’s revenue
- [11:35] Khaimi: Only a unified opposition can dislodge the regime
- [15:00] Khaimi: President Pezeshkian "implicated" in crimes against humanity
- [16:53] Khaimi: Nuclear talks ignore the Iranian people
- [24:47] Hunter Hess: "Mixed emotions to represent the US"
- [35:45] Chloe Kim: Immigrant family experience and freedom of protest
- [42:23] Maria Ressa: "A lie told a million times becomes a fact..."
- [43:44] Ressa: Facts, truth, trust, and democracy
- [47:39] Ressa: Zuckerberg as “the bigger dictator”
Tone & Style
The episode is urgent, direct, and sobering, with guests using plain, forceful language to describe crisis, repression, and the worldwide erosion of trust and democracy. It also features moments of resilience, hope, and calls to action from athletes, activists, and everyday people.
Summary prepared for those seeking a comprehensive, insightful account of the episode’s themes: Iran’s brutality and quest for change, sport’s political dimensions, and the information battles shaping Western democracy.