Juan Cole links to the latest episode of Inside Iraq on al-Jazeera English (parts one and two are embedded below). The show features Richard Schmierer, a fairly high-ranking US diplomat, appearing opposite Seyed Mohammad Marandi, head of North American Studies at University of Tehran. Marandi is not an Iranian official but does express views that are fairly mainstream within the Iranian establishment. Under the previous American administration, officials rarely appeared on al-Jazeera, much less alongside guests supportive of Iranian government positions. Could this be evidence of a new Obama approach to engaging regional media?
Dr. Marandi was very impressive.