The Rachman Review

<p>US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent is calling for an “economic D-Day” for the Iranian regime while threatening secondary sanctions on countries that do business with the country. Will this be more effective than previous attempts at economic pressure? What impact will this have on US relations with China? And how will energy markets react? <a href="https://www.ft.com/stream/caf2716e-5e84-44d4-ad80-2c8d489283a7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sasha Polakow-Suransky</a>, executive o

<p>The UN is choosing a new secretary-general at a time when it’s struggling to remain relevant. Sidelined in the wars in Ukraine, Sudan and the Middle East, and facing a severe funding crisis, the organisation is under growing pressure. This week, guest host <a href="https://www.ft.com/alec-russell" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alec Russell</a> speaks to Thant Myint-U, a former UN official, author and the grandson of former UN secretary-general U Thant, about the challenges its new

<p>Gideon Rachman speaks to historian and author Simon Sebag Montefiore about his new book, <em>The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East</em>. They discuss the forces that shaped the region, from the Ottoman Empire and Ataturk to the ongoing tensions between the US, Israel and Iran. Gideon and Simon examine the region's complexities and interconnectedness and whether lessons from the past can offer a glimpse into the future. CLIP: <em>British Pathé</em></p><br><p>Join us at the FT Week

<p><a href="https://www.ft.com/gideon-rachman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gideon</a> talks to Vali Nasr, author of <em>Iran’s Grand Strategy </em>and professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Johns Hopkins University, SAIS, about how the balance of power in the Middle East is changing. After six months of on-off hostilities, Nasr argues, Iran’s core aims are unchanged - ending the US threat and securing economic relief. But Iran now looks to have the upper hand and is using its lever

<p>What began as outrage over a senior judge's comments has become one of the most striking youth protest movements India has seen in years. <a href="https://www.ft.com/gideon-rachman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gideon</a> talks to Professor Mukulika Banerjee of the London School of Economics about why so many young Indians have taken to the streets, what the "cockroach movement" says about the country's economic and educational pressures, and whether it poses a genuine challenge

<p>Tariffs, sanctions and chokepoints have become the weapon of choice to punish political rivals - but what happens when these fail? <a href="https://www.ft.com/gideon-rachman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gideon</a> discusses the impact of geopolitical disputes on global trade with Edward Fishman, author of <em>Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare. Clip: Al Jazeera</em></p><br><p><strong>Free links to read more on this topic:</strong></p><p><a href="https://w

<p><a href="https://www.ft.com/gideon-rachman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gideon </a>talks to Julianne Smith, former US ambassador to Nato about the future of the alliance.&nbsp;There seems to be greater transatlantic agreement on Ukraine, but tensions remain over Europe’s stance on Donald Trump’s war on Iran.<em> </em>So can the alliance survive without the US at the helm? <em>Clip: ANI News</em></p><br><p><strong>Free links to read more on this topic:</strong></p><p><a href="htt

<p><a href="https://www.ft.com/gideon-rachman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gideon</a> talks to Simon Kuper, FT columnist and author of <em>World Cup Fever, </em>about what distinguishes this World Cup from previous tournaments. What role has geopolitics played historically in the World Cup and is there any truth to some of the conspiracy theories surrounding this year's events? <em>Clip: ITV Sport</em></p><br><p><strong>Free links to read more on this topic:</strong></p><p><a href=