Illinois scholar Mateo Mohammad Farzaneh on America’s war with Iran
Recent scenes from Iran: Members of the Revolutionary Guard pull mock coffins draped in Israeli and U.S. flags as one holds a banner reading "Down with USA" during the state-organized "Janfada," or "Sacrifice for Iran," military parade in Tehran, on Sept. 18, 2026; a pharmacy technician arranges boxes of medicine at a pharmacy in Tehran on Sept. 21, 2026; and children play on a swing at sunrise as cargo ships are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Sept. 28, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP (military parade and pharmacy) • Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP
It’s been more than seven months since America and Israel went to war with Iran.
Fighting has continued on and off, gas prices have soared in America, and Iranian current hit a new low in value today.
The U.S. is in talks with Iran. And last week President Trump, in a speech at the United Nations,
Meanwhile, President Trump has mused about annihilating Iran, but has also said the conflict will end “very soon.” And he’s said he expects to resume bombing after the election.
Joining us to try to make sense of what's happening was Mateo Mohammad Farzaneh. He’s professor and chair of the history and political science departments at Northeastern Illinois University. He was born in Iran, and his family was displaced when Iraq invaded in 1980; he came to the United States in 1984.
Discussed
- AP (Sept. 30, 2026): Iranians face soaring prices for medicine as the US blockade and sanctions hit hard
- AP (Sept. 29, 2026): Iran’s currency hits a new record low as war erodes the country’s economic stability
- The Atlantic (May 10, 2026): Checkmate in Iran
Guest
Mateo Mohammad Farzaneh
Professor and chair of history & political science, Northeastern Illinois University
