"You don't kill the King"—Iran’s regime is crumbling, but what comes next? Dr Thamar Eilam Gindin

Listen to this episode from I'm Jonathan Sacerdoti on Spotify. Dr Thamar Eilam Gindin talks to Jonathan Sacerdoti about the unraveling Islamic Republic of Iran, the cultural forces shaping its future, and why eliminating its leader may not be the best strategic move. This sharp, timely conversation offers unparalleled insight into Iran’s identity pendulum, the role of secularism, and what comes next in this critical moment for the Middle East and the world.We discuss:- Whether killing Iran’s Supreme Leader would help or harm regime change- The deep cultural importance of honour and martyrdom in Iranian politics- Why Israel and Iran’s people may have more in common than their governments- How the regime uses Iran’s Jewish community for propaganda- The shifting identity of Iran—from Islamic rule to secular revival- What the West gets wrong about supporting uprisings in Iran00:00 - Should we kill Khamenei?03:20 - Are Iran and Israel secretly aligned?06:40 - What happens if the regime falls but the leader survives?10:00 - Can disgrace defeat a dictator?13:20 - Who really runs Iran?16:40 - Is the Islamic Republic collapsing?20:00 - What happened to Iran’s $80 billion gamble?23:20 - Why did Iran cancel its hijab law?26:40 - Can ancient pride defeat political Islam?30:00 - Is Iran already secular?33:20 - Why does the West keep getting Iran wrong?36:40 - Are Iran’s Jews free—or hostages?40:00 - What does the regime fear most?43:20 - Should Israel push for revolution?46:40 - What makes Iranians say “enough”?50:00 - Could water and power outages spark revolt?53:20 - Will the regime’s fall bring chaos?56:40 - Is Reza Pahlavi the answer?60:00 - Has Persian identity survived Islam?63:20 - How close are we to the endgame?