Podcast Summary

Podcast: The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim
Episode: Inside Iran: What's it like in Tehran right now?
Date: March 19, 2026
Host: Yalda Hakim (Sky News) with International Affairs Editor Dominic Waghorn and team live from Tehran

Episode Overview

In a rare and timely on-the-ground dispatch from Tehran, Sky News’ Yalda Hakim connects with International Affairs Editor Dominic Waghorn and colleague Zane (surname not given) during a precarious window amid Iran's ongoing war and widespread internet blackout. With only a handful of Western journalists currently inside the country, the team shares firsthand accounts of daily life for Iranians, the government’s stance, growing international tensions, and sobering reflections on how the conflict is shifting the region and altering perceptions both locally and abroad.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Atmosphere in Tehran Amidst War

• Daily Realities Under Bombardment:

  • The team recounts witnessing the funeral of senior officials, including Ali Larajani, killed in an Israeli airstrike, and the crew of a torpedoed Iranian ship (02:22).
  • Huge crowds amassed in Revolution Square as a display of collective mourning and government defiance, even as the city came under regular airstrikes (02:22–04:32).
  • Despite ongoing attacks, many try to maintain a semblance of normal life—markets bustling with Nowruz (Persian New Year) shoppers under the constant threat of bombardment (04:49–06:50).

• Striking Contrasts and Resilience:

  • "People are now getting inured, I guess, to the sort of regular bombardment that they're living through and people are out shopping for Nowruz… People are trying to just carry on with their lives." — Dominic Waghorn (B) [05:23]
  • Larger-than-life banners displaying the new Supreme Leader, Moshtab Al Khamenei, signal official attempts to project stability and continuity (05:35).

• Changes in the City:

  • Noticeable reduction in usual traffic and vibrancy, especially odd in the lead-up to Nowruz (06:50).
  • Ordinary citizens visibly strained—hotel staff and locals still respond nervously to explosions and anti-aircraft fire despite attempts to adapt (08:25).

2. The Regime’s Response & Leadership Continuity

• Leadership Losses and Messaging:

  • The government’s succession structure is robust: as one leader is assassinated, the next steps in quickly, with resilience engineered into the system (05:35).
  • Both officials and citizens frequently recall the Iran-Iraq war as a source of collective historical resilience (11:35).

• Defiance from Officials:

  • Interview with Dr. Khatib Sade, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister: warned the US about a potential “quagmire” akin to Vietnam should they consider “boots on the ground.” (10:11–10:24)
  • "They understand that those who drag them into this war can drag them into also a quagmire." — Dr. Khatib Sade (D) [10:11]

• Official Stance on Diplomacy:

  • Government currently has no appetite for ceasefire or negotiations; officials and some citizens see past diplomatic efforts as ruses for military build-up by the West (10:50–11:35).

3. Public Mood, Media & Civilian Voices

• Access in a Police State:

  • While able to move and interview with relative freedom, most ordinary people are wary, preferring to share grievances off-camera, especially with foreign journalists (13:21–14:54).

• Muted Dissent, Hopes for Change:

  • Desire for change is evident but tightly coded: "People saying whenever this war is over, they want things to change… that is kind of a coded way of saying that they want to see a change in the way the country is run." — Dominic Waghorn (B) [15:15]
  • Earlier protests against the government have not re-emerged under current conflict and repression.

• Firsthand Human Impact:

  • Civilian casualties and stories from hospitals highlight the dire toll of airstrikes, despite claims of precision targeting by Israel and the US (14:13).
  • "If you use 2,000 pound bombs in residential areas… you're going to cause a lot of collateral damage. Civilians are being badly hurt… some of them being killed as well." — Dominic Waghorn (B) [14:13]

4. The Blackout & Challenges of Reporting

• Surviving the Information Void:
  • Team struggles with near-total internet cutoff, relying on state media and difficult workarounds to transmit reports (06:50–07:55).
  • "It's very, very difficult to get much information from the outside." — Zane (C) [15:52]
• Western News Filtering:
  • State media is quick to relay stories of US weakness or dissent, such as reports about the US National Counterterrorism Director resigning, but censors other international news (21:24).

5. The View From Outside: Strategic Concerns & Uncertain Outcomes

• Perspectives from Abroad:

  • Yalda relays growing anxiety in the West—targets are being hit, but the US and Israel’s endgame seems ever more distant (16:10–19:30).
  • “Victory three weeks ago looked like…regime change… Now victory looks like taking back the Strait of Hormuz, which is kind of extraordinary…” — Yalda Hakim (A) [17:23]
  • Uncertainty and mission creep: US troop deployments (Marines to Kharg Island, securing the Strait) risk deeper entanglement and exposure to Iranian attacks.

• Analysis on Iranian Endurance & US Dilemmas:

  • “Options for America get more and more problematic the longer this goes on… I think Donald Trump's going to want to get out of this sooner than later. Finding an off ramp is going to be increasingly difficult in a way that he can dress up as any kind of a win.” — Dominic Waghorn (B) [22:57]
  • The regime’s hold remains “intact,” and most opposition has gone underground or is silenced.

• Military, Political, and Psychological Fronts:

  • Israel and the US are destroying physical assets and leaders, but public support around the regime and the concept of martyrdom may actually harden resistance (23:45).

6. Memorable Moments and Atmosphere in Tehran

• Juxtaposition of War and Tradition:
  • Uncanny scenes as anti-aircraft fire and fireworks for Nowruz fill the night sky—a new "normality" for Iranians (25:42).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• (05:23)—"People are now getting inured to the sort of regular bombardment...and people are out shopping for Nowruz... People are trying to just carry on with their lives." (Dominic Waghorn, B)
• (10:11)—"They understand that those who drag them into this war can drag them into also a quagmire." (Dr. Khatib Sade, Deputy Foreign Minister, D)
• (15:15)—"People saying whenever this war is over, they want things to change...that is kind of a coded way of saying that they want to see a change in the way the country is run." (Dominic Waghorn, B)
• (14:13)—"If you use 2,000 pound bombs in residential areas…you're going to cause a lot of collateral damage...civilians are being badly hurt, many of them being badly injured and some of them being killed as well." (Dominic Waghorn, B)
• (17:23)—"Victory three weeks ago looked like...regime change... Now victory looks like taking back the Strait of Hormuz, which is kind of extraordinary…" (Yalda Hakim, A)
• (22:57)—“Options for America get more and more problematic the longer this goes on… I think Donald Trump's going to want to get out of this sooner than later. Finding an off ramp is going to be increasingly difficult in a way that he can dress up as any kind of a win.” (Dominic Waghorn, B)
• (25:42)—“You have the strange situation—actually for this entire podcast, we haven't heard a single bang, have we? But actually most nights you're hearing thuds and crumps and an anti-aircraft fire going off into the sky. Last night was the firework night and the last Tuesday before Nowruz, the Persian New Year: a strange juxtaposition of fireworks going up, but also incoming coming in… We're settling into kind of normality.” (Dominic Waghorn, B)

Segment Timestamps

• 02:22 – 04:32: Funeral for slain officials and massive public turnout as sign of defiance
• 04:49 – 08:25: Life in Tehran, markets and Nowruz, reactions to ongoing attacks
• 09:27 – 11:35: Interview with Deputy Foreign Minister, warnings for the US, stance on diplomacy
• 13:21 – 15:15: Challenges reporting and accessing civilian views under strict controls
• 16:10 – 19:30: Comparison of perspectives—Tehran vs. Western capitals, shifting goals in the war
• 22:57 – 27:05: Prognosis—how does this end? Internal resilience, international dilemmas, war’s impact on government and civilians

Closing Reflections

• Iran’s regime remains firmly in control in the capital, buoyed by a deep sense of national resilience, even as the elite leadership comes under sustained attack.
• Daily life for civilians is marked by both shock and adaptation: shopping for Nowruz as bombs fall, and fireworks compete with anti-aircraft fire.
• For Western policymakers, the goals and measures of “success” keep shifting and clear exits remain elusive, while the human toll mounts and any hope for quick regime change fades.

“It’s extraordinary to hear these insights from inside the country. Thank you for your reporting…Stay safe and Happy Nowruz.”
— Yalda Hakim [27:05]