Iran Audio Feature: Nuclear Talks and Scare Stories --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

See also Iran Feature: "Oil-Spill Sabotage To Block Strait of Hormuz" --- How Western Media Spreads a Scare Story

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I joined Monocle 24's The Briefing today to talk about latest developments concerning Iran. We spent most of the time asking if Tehran's signals to the West over renewed discussions about its nuclear programme are genuine; however, we also had a look at today's "scare story" of an Iranian plan for an oil spill in the Strait of Hormuz and the more serious claim --- though still part of political spin --- of Tehran's cyber-warfare against the US, Europe, and Arab States.

To get to the discussion, open The Briefing's homepage, click on the programe for 15/10, and go to the 7:19 mark.

Iran Audio Feature: Can Iraq Stop Tehran Flying Weapons to Syria? --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

I spoke this morning with Monocle 24's The Globalist this morning about Iraq, Iran, and the Syrian conflict.

The discussion first considered Baghdad's declaration this weekend that it will command Syrian-bound Iranian planes overflying Iraq to land for inspection, following American claims that Tehran has been using the route to move military equipment and personnel to Damascus.

[Editor's Note: Iraqi officials have said today that they stopped and searched a Syrian-bound Iranian cargo plane for weapons, but allowed it to continue as no prohibited items were found.]       

The conversation then opened up to Iran's role in the Syrian conflict to discussion of the state of the Syrian insurgency and whether any political resolution is possible.

To listen, go to The Globalist homepage, click on the programme for 2/10, and go to the 10-minute mark.

Iran Audio Feature: Predicting Ahmadinejad's Speech (and Does It Really Matter?) --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

I spoke last night with Monocle 24's The Daily about what Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will say today at the United Nations General Assembly --- they foresaw more "Israel should not exist" posturing; I am looking more to the Iranian President's emphasis on international "reform" to challenge Western "domination"; don't expect any detailed mention of Syria --- before taking on the bigger question:

Does the speech really matter, given that Ahmadinejad is a lame-duck President of declining significance in an Iran beset by economic and political difficulties?

To listen to the discussion, open The Daily's homepage, click on the programme for 25/9, and go to the 9:00 mark.

Syria Audio Feature: "Foreign Fighters and the Free Syrian Army" --- EA's James Miller with Monocle 24

AFP with insurgents in Aleppo on Monday

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James Miller spoke with Monocle 24's The Daily last night about the state of the insurgency in Syria, as the Free Syrian Army declares that it has moved its command inside the country and the regime claims it is facing 5000 foreign fighters.

Miller opens, "Foreign fighters are still a small percentage of the insurgency, but the number is quickly growing," before explaining the shifting patterns of the conflict.

And will the Free Syrian Army achieve a unified command? "Not any time soon."

To get to the discussion, open The Daily homepage, click on the programme for 24/9, and go to the 1:04.42 mark.

Iran Audio Feature: "Tehran's Clean Internet" --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

On Friday I spoke with Monocle 24's The Briefing on latest developments in the Islamic Republic's effort for a "national Internet". The regime has reportedly achieved the first stage of linking up government agencies and some businesses in a self-contained system. Will it go farther and seal off Iranians from outside sites, search engines, and e-mail systems?

To listen to the discussion, go to The Briefing's homepage, open the programme for 21/9, and start at the 47:30 mark.

Iran Audio Feature: The Gathering Economic Storm --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

When President Ahmadinejad speaks about drought being caused by the "West" destroying clouds before they can bring rain to Iran, when words like "currency" and "gold" are blocked in SMS texts, and when a Minister says the rising cost of milk and chicken is not a sign of general inflation, you know something is up with the Islamic Republic's economy.

That's the opening to my interview with Monocle 24's The Daily last night. We took a longer look at the economic issues, the effect on Iran's foreign as well as its domestic policy, and the prospect of a public rising in reaction to the difficulties.

To get to the item, open the homepage of The Daily, click on the programme for 11/9, and go to the 8:22 mark.

Will Israel Attack Iran? --- Daniella Peled and Scott Lucas on Monocle 24

Daniella Peled, editor at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, and I spoke with Monocle 24's Midori House last night about the possibility of Israeli military action against Iran, in light of the latest International Atomic Energy Agency report on Tehran's nuclear programme.

To listen to the discussion, go to Midori House's homepage, open the programme for 31/8, and start at the 6:35 mark.

Syria Audio Feature: The Escalating Issues of Refugees and a Transitional Government --- James Miller with Monocle 24

Al Jazeera English on the "ghost town" of Salma in northwest Syria

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EA's James Miller spoke with Monocle 24's The Daily last night about latest developments in the Syrian crisis, notably the reaction to French President Francois Hollande's declaration that he would recognise a transitional government and the growing pressure of Syrian refugees in Turkey.

To get to the discussion, go to The Daily's homepage and click on the programme for 28/8. The conversation begins at the 43:55 mark.

Syria Audio Feature: What Now For Western Intervention? --- James Miller with Monocle 24

Dawn shelling of Saraqeb in Idlib Province

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EA's James Miller spoke last night with Monocle 24's The Daily about this week's developments in Syria, considering the question of Western intervention in the escalating crisis.

To listen to the discussion, go to The Daily's homepage, click on the programme for 24/8 (possibly 25/8 in certain time zones), and start at the 8:24 mark.

Syria Audio Feature: "Assessing An Airstrike on Azaz" --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24

Photo: Goran Tomasevic (Reuters)I spoke with Monocle 24's The Briefing at lunchtime about the Syrian airstrike on the town of Azaz that killed at least 45 people. To consider the political and military significance, I noted other events such as the insurgents' discovery of the regime's Iran-supplied drones and their capture of anti-aircraft guns and a portable air-defence system. 

The take-away line? The regime, in an increasingly difficult position, is stepping up its bombardment, but the insurgents have better weapons. That brings the prospect of a more intense conflict this autumn.

Given that, we chatted about the prospect of an internationally-supported no-fly zone. We also discussed developments in Lebanon, in the context of kidnappings of opposition members by the al-Moqdad family, and the possibility of spiralling conflict.

To listen, go to the homepage of The Briefing, click Play on the 16/8 programme, and start at the 7:37 mark.