The Iranians Who Want Trump to Intervene

The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim
Episode Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Yalda Hakim (Sky News)
Guests: Azadeh Afzahi (Human Rights Activist), Muj Madara (Founder, Iranian Diaspora Collective)

Episode Overview

This special episode focuses on the ongoing crisis and brutal crackdown in Iran, where massive street protests—sparked by economic hardship but quickly shifting to calls for regime change—have resulted in thousands of deaths and sweeping arrests. Yalda Hakim hosts a powerful conversation with two influential members of the Iranian diaspora, Azadeh Afzahi and Muj Madara. Together they explore the pain, helplessness, and hope felt by Iranians at home and abroad. The conversation also grapples with the role of the international community, the desire for outside intervention, and the complexities of preserving culture in exile.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Current Situation in Iran

• Iran has witnessed two weeks of massive, youth-driven protests over economic issues that swiftly escalated to demands for regime change.
• The government implemented an internet blackout, making it nearly impossible to verify events inside the country, fuelling a climate of fear and uncertainty.
• Unverified but credible reports suggest at least 2,600 deaths and 10,000 arrests, with some protesters facing execution. ([00:02])

Quote:

“There has been a bloody and brutal crackdown on the protesters. At least 2,600 people have been killed. 10,000 or more people have been locked up, with some of those sentenced to death.”
— Yalda Hakim (00:45)

2. The Emotional Toll on the Iranian Diaspora

• Both guests describe an intense sense of helplessness, rage, and sorrow as they struggle to reach family and friends still in Iran during the communications blackout.
• The fear of Iran becoming permanently isolated, “another North Korea,” is palpable.

Quotes:

“It's like a roller coaster... you feel numb, you feel helpless, you feel rage, anger, and then you feel sad...”
— Azadeh Afzahi (05:44)

“The regime is showing us their ability to isolate 90 million people, which is beyond…”
— Muj Madara (06:45)

• First-hand accounts from those fleeing Iran highlight shocking violence, including massacres of children.

3. International Response and Calls for Intervention

• Both guests express deep disappointment with what they see as tepid responses from world powers.
• Muj demands tangible actions, such as technology companies and governments working to break the information blackout.

Quote:

“At what level does the Iranian people have to suffer to get beyond thoughts and prayers and Instagram posts? This is unacceptable.... No more negotiation, no more reform.”
— Muj Madara (10:24)

• Muj urges Apple and Starlink to “turn on the lights” for Iranians and calls out Chinese complicity in strengthening the regime’s digital firewall.

4. The Longing for Home and Preservation of Culture

• Both guests share powerful, personal anecdotes about growing up as part of the diaspora with the hope of one day returning to Iran.
• They reflect on the deep connections forged and maintained through Persian culture, language, food, music, and tradition—often idealized amid exile.

Quotes:

“We're connected through pain. Pain is universal. And I feel like the Iranian people for 47 years have endured that pain and we have had the hope that we will all return.”
— Azadeh Afzahi (12:45)

“I have never been anywhere that I’ve felt more loved, more belonging, more at peace, more joy ... there’s a real distinction between what has gone on here politically and what is in the hearts and minds of Persian culture.”
— Muj Madara (16:31)

5. Exile Generations and Hope Across Time

• The diaspora’s longing is intergenerational. Both guests and the host describe building new lives abroad but holding on to cultural memory.

Quote:

“I have three children, and they are so embedded in the culture … we have so much to give to each other. We have so much to give to the world.”
— Azadeh Afzahi (20:15)

6. Prospects for Change—Is This Time Different?

• Despite recurring cycles of hope and brutal suppression (Green Movement 2009, 2019 protests, 2022 Women Life Freedom), a fear persists that change may once again slip away.
• The return of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a transitional figure is mentioned as a unique factor this time, channeling nationalist (rather than monarchist) sentiment and mobilizing not just protesters but workers critical to infrastructure.

Quotes:

“People are out protesting, they're looking to the sky for drones and planes to be flying over them, thinking that America’s coming to save them. This is devastating to me as an American and as an Iranian.”
— Muj Madara (23:26)

• Muj emphasizes the diaspora’s willingness to reinvest in Iran: “Send a DocuSign contract to every Iranian in the diaspora... I promise you, everyone would say, where do I sign? Immediately.” (24:30)

7. Debate Over Risks: Was It Right to Call People Onto the Streets?

• The host challenges whether Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s rhetoric (“this is a war”) raised the stakes too high, leading to more deaths without achieving change.
• Azadeh responds that most protesters knew the risks but felt they had nothing left to lose.

Quote:

“When people are taking on the street, that means that they know that they might not return. Not because. But there is nothing to return to.”
— Azadeh Afzahi (27:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "At what level does the Iranian people have to suffer to get beyond thoughts and prayers and Instagram posts? ... No more negotiation, no more reform."
  — Muj Madara (10:24)

• "We're connected through pain. Pain is universal."
  — Azadeh Afzahi (12:45)

• "I have never been anywhere that I’ve felt more loved, more belonging, more at peace, more joy ..."
  — Muj Madara (16:31)

• "When people are taking on the street, that means that they know that they might not return. … There is nothing to return to."
  — Azadeh Afzahi (27:14)

Key Timestamps

• 00:02-01:23 – Host’s intro: protest context, digital blackout, regime crackdown
• 05:44-07:00 – Emotional realities for the diaspora; Azadeh & Muj share helplessness and fears
• 10:24-11:42 – Muj’s outspoken call for global tech and government intervention
• 12:45-13:45 – Azadeh on pain, longing for return, Nobel Peace Prize winner appeals
• 16:31-18:58 – Muj’s personal memories, distinct Persian culture vs. politics
• 23:26-24:30 – Muj on hope, diaspora’s readiness to return and reinvest
• 27:14-27:56 – Azadeh: risks of protest, youth have “nothing to return to”

Tone & Takeaway

Throughout the episode, the discussion is passionate, urgent, and deeply personal, marked by both grief and resilience. Azadeh and Muj speak with candor and emotion, addressing issues that go beyond politics to the heart of what it means to be Iranian in exile. The call for meaningful international action—rather than platitudes—is clear, as is the longing for a future in which Iranians, at home and abroad, can reclaim pride in their nation and enjoy fundamental freedoms.