Inside the US-Iran Shadow War for Control of the Middle East
TLDRThe video script delves into the complex geopolitical landscape of Iran and its influence in the Middle East. It recounts the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist suspected of leading a secret nuclear program, amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions and covert operations. The narrative explores Iran's portrayal as a regional force against terrorism, its role in Iraq, and the implications of the U.S.'s targeted killings of key Iranian and Iraqi figures. The script raises questions about the future of Iran's proxy forces and the ongoing shadow wars that shape the region's stability.
Takeaways
- π¬ Iran's defense ministry confirmed the assassination of a top nuclear scientist suspected of leading a secret nuclear weapons program.
- π₯ The scientist was killed by a remote-controlled machine gun mounted on a car, which later exploded according to Iranian media.
- π The visit to Iran was prompted by a period of intense tension and tragedy, including the shooting down of a passenger jet and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ποΈ The new U.S. administration's invitation to Iran seemed to carry a specific message, offering unprecedented access to the country's nuclear program and political climate.
- π΅οΈ Pro-government analyst Said Khashoggi implicated Israel and the United States in the assassination, suggesting it was a strategic move that could trigger war.
- π₯ The script discusses the ongoing threat to Iran's nuclear scientists, with many assassination attempts and the survival of one, Dr. Abbasi, who shares his experience.
- π₯ The documentary crew's access was heavily monitored by Iranian intelligence agencies, aiming to portray Iran as a positive regional force despite conflicts.
- π€ Iran's efforts to fight terrorism and stabilize Iraq are highlighted, suggesting a complex reality beyond the narrative of conflict with the U.S. and Israel.
- π‘οΈ The script touches on the assassination of General Qasim Suleimani, a key figure in expanding Iranian influence and fighting against ISIS.
- π‘οΈ The documentary explores the role of Iran's proxies, such as the Badr Brigade, in enforcing Iranian interests and fighting ISIS in Iraq.
- ποΈ The U.S. presence in Iraq is diminishing, while Iran's influence, through militias like Hashd al-Shaabi, continues to grow, raising questions about future stability in the region.
Q & A
What was the method of assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist?
-The top Iranian nuclear scientist was assassinated using a remotely controlled machine gun mounted on a car, which later blew up.
What is the significance of Dr. Fakhri Zadeh's assassination to the Iran nuclear program?
-Dr. Fakhri Zadeh was a key scientist in Iran's nuclear program, and his assassination could have significant implications for the program's progress and Iran's response to the act.
What does the script suggest about the potential retaliation for the assassination of Dr. Fakhri Zadeh?
-The script suggests that any retaliation would likely target someone of strategic importance within Israel, as the assassination was intended to inflict a strategic loss on Iran.
What is the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) mentioned in the script?
-The JCPOA, or Iran Nuclear Deal, is an agreement that was exited by President Trump and is back on the table, aiming to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.
What role does the script suggest Iran is playing in the region, particularly in relation to fighting terrorism?
-The script portrays Iran as a positive force in the region, fighting terrorism and stabilizing neighboring Iraq, while also being involved in a shadow war with the U.S. for control of the Middle East.
What is the significance of General Qasim Suleimani's assassination in the context of U.S.-Iran relations?
-General Qasim Suleimani's assassination is a significant escalation in U.S.-Iran relations, as he was the second most powerful man in Iran and played a key role in fighting ISIS and spreading Iranian influence.
How does the script describe the situation at the Iran-Iraq border?
-The script describes a tense situation at the Iran-Iraq border, with the crew experiencing difficulties in crossing due to political interference and being held in a holding cell for several hours.
What is the role of the Badr Brigade in Iran's influence in Iraq?
-The Badr Brigade serves as Iran's enforcers in Iraq, known for fighting ISIS and for their brutal treatment of anyone who crosses them, and they are part of the larger Hashd al-Shaabi forces.
What narrative does the script suggest Iran is trying to portray regarding its fight against ISIS?
-The script suggests that Iran is trying to portray itself as working hard to defeat ISIS, a narrative that contrasts with the U.S.'s apparent disengagement from the fight and the region.
What are the potential consequences of the U.S. invasion of Iraq as described in the script?
-The script suggests that the U.S. invasion of Iraq has led to unintended consequences, including the strengthening of Iran's influence in the region and the ongoing shadow wars that show no signs of resolution.
What is the script's perspective on the future of Iran's proxies and their role after the fight against ISIS?
-The script raises concerns about what will happen to Iran's proxies, such as the Hashd al-Shaabi, once the fight against ISIS ends, suggesting that their power and influence may continue to grow.
Outlines
π¬ Assassination of a Nuclear Scientist
The script begins with the news of the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist, suspected by the West and Israel of leading a secret nuclear weapons program. He was killed by a remote-controlled machine gun mounted on a car that later exploded. The video then transitions to a visit to Iran, a country described as enigmatic and on edge due to recent events such as the shooting down of a passenger jet, a severe COVID-19 outbreak, and tightening sanctions. The visit is timed with the new U.S. president's administration, and the Iranian government seems to have a specific message to convey, offering unprecedented access to the foreign crew.
π¨ Surviving an Assassination Attempt
The script moves on to discuss the precarious situation of Iran's nuclear scientists, who have been frequent targets of assassination attempts, often successful. The crew meets Dr. Abbasi, a scientist who survived an assassination attempt, and views the car he was in just before it exploded. The encounter reveals the high stakes and the fear felt by those involved in Iran's nuclear program, as well as the broader implications of such targeted killings.
π₯ Propaganda and the Fight Against ISIS
The narrative continues with the crew's interactions with a movie director known for his patriotic depictions of Iranian militarism and a legendary Iranian general and spymaster, who was assassinated. The video touches on the complexities of the situation, with Iran portraying itself as a force against terrorism while facing accusations of imperialism from the U.S. The crew's visit to a holding cell on the Iranian border and the National Defense Museum further illustrates the ongoing shadow war for control of the Middle East.
π΅οΈββοΈ Encounters with ISIS and Iranian Influence
The script describes the crew's attempt to meet with an alleged ISIS fighter captured by one of Suleimani's militias, marking the first time an American crew would meet an ISIS fighter captured by Iran. Despite initial setbacks and the tense nature of the situation, the crew eventually interviews an ISIS prisoner, exploring Iran's narrative of combating terrorism and the U.S.'s apparent shift in focus away from ISIS.
π The Power of Iranian Militias and Proxy Wars
The video script delves into the influence of Iranian-backed militias, particularly the Badr Brigade, which has been instrumental in enforcing Iran's interests in Iraq and fighting ISIS. The crew's journey to the Iraqi border and their encounter with the Badr Brigade highlights the extent of Iran's power and its role in regional conflicts, as well as the potential consequences of the U.S.'s disengagement from the Middle East.
π Border Tensions and the Legacy of Suleimani
The script recounts the crew's challenging border crossing from Iran to Iraq, which was fraught with delays and uncertainty due to political interference. Once in Iraq, the narrative focuses on the legacy of General Qasim Suleimani, who was assassinated in a U.S. drone strike and is seen as a key figure in expanding Iranian influence in the region. The crew visits the site of Suleimani's assassination and explores the implications of his death.
π½ The U.S. and Iran's Role in the Fight Against ISIS
The video script examines the role of the U.S. and Iran in the fight against ISIS, questioning the U.S.'s rationale for assassinating key Iranian figures and the impact on regional stability. It also explores the growth of Iranian influence in Iraq, particularly through the Hashd al-Shaabi militias, and the potential long-term consequences for the region as the U.S.'s presence diminishes.
ποΈ The Future of Iranian-Backed Militias
The final paragraph discusses the future of Iran-backed militias in Iraq, particularly the Hashd al-Shaabi, which has grown significantly in numbers and influence. The script raises concerns about what will happen to these militias once the fight against ISIS ends and ponders the broader geopolitical implications of Iran's expanding power in the Middle East, especially as the U.S. becomes increasingly disengaged.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Assassination
π‘Nuclear Scientist
π‘Remote-Controlled Machine Gun
π‘Iran Nuclear Program
π‘JCPOA
π‘Proxy
π‘ISIS
π‘Suleimani
π‘Shadow War
π‘Holding Cell
π‘Unintended Consequences
Highlights
Iran's defense ministry confirms the assassination of a top nuclear scientist suspected of leading a secret nuclear weapons program.
The scientist was killed by a remote-controlled machine gun and a car explosion, as per Iranian media reports.
The documentary crew received unprecedented access to Iran during a time of political tension and global scrutiny.
Iran is portrayed as a positive regional force amidst assassinations of national figures and a looming election.
The Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) is back on the table after the U.S. withdrawal under President Trump.
Dr. Abbasi, a scientist who survived an assassination attempt, shares his experience and fears for his life.
Iran's influence in Iraq is highlighted through its oldest proxy force, the Badr Brigade.
The documentary crew's encounter with an alleged ISIS fighter reveals Iran's narrative of combating terrorism.
Hussein Amir Abdullahian, known as Mr. Shadow, discusses the potential for Iran and the U.S. to cooperate against ISIS.
The documentary explores the unintended consequences of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Iran's growing influence.
General Qasim Suleimani's assassination and its impact on Iran-U.S. relations are examined.
The crew visits the site of General Suleimani's drone strike, now a memorial, and discusses the implications.
Muhammad Ali Khabib discusses the role of Iranian militias in Iraq and their connection to Iran's foreign policy.
Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Badr Brigade, shares his views on U.S. actions in Iraq and the fight against ISIS.
The documentary raises questions about the future of Iranian-backed militias and their role after the defeat of ISIS.
The crew's experience at the Iran-Iraq border crossing highlights the tense relationship between the two countries.
The documentary concludes with reflections on the ongoing shadow wars in the Middle East and the U.S.'s waning influence.
Transcripts
[Music]
iran's defense ministry has confirmed
that one of the country's top nuclear
scientists has been assassinated
has long been suspected by the west and
israel of masterminding a secret nuclear
weapons program
he was ambushed with a remote controlled
machine gun mounted on a car that later
blew up
according to iranian media reports
[Music]
[Music]
in march this year we got visas for the
most enigmatic country in the middle
east
iran it had been an insane and tragic 18
months since i was last there
a country that was already on edge after
a passenger jet had been shot down over
the capital city
had been engulfed by one of the world's
worst covet outbreaks
and ever tightening sanctions which only
seemed to make everyday life
more and more difficult add to that the
assassinations of major national figures
and a looming election that could upend
the country's politics
and it's been a strange and traumatic
time
the timing of our invitation was telling
with the new president in the white
house
our government contacts seemed to have a
very specific message to send
giving us unprecedented access we
started at the mosque where most
infocrisabe is buried
we were there to meet with said khashogg
a pro-government analyst with strong
views about foreign interference
how important was dr fakhrisa day to the
iran nuclear program
he was a key scientist and the
iranians may not forget his
assassination and who do you think was
responsible for
israel for sure but iranians also
believe that
israel had the go-ahead and the green
light from the united states
to do such a thing that could trigger
war
what is the kind of appropriate response
or retaliation
for the assassination of someone as
important as dr favreza
i do believe that it would be happening
on a target inside israel because
they meant to inflict the strategic
loss on iran so whatever they do
should be of the strategic importance
but we don't know when what time and how
first
our conversation with khosh kesem kicked
off the toughest shoot i've done of many
in iran
at a time of extreme tension in the
middle east and with the iran nuclear
deal known as the jcpoa back on the
table
after being exited by president trump
our government contacts
in a multitude of iranian intelligence
agencies who tracked our every move
wanted us to portray the country as a
positive force in the region
while america and its ally israel were
killing scientists
iran and its unofficial militias were
busy fighting terrorists
stabilizing their neighbor iraq and
generally being the good guys in a bad
neighborhood
reality was a lot more complicated from
iranian-backed militias
to a guy in baghdad with pet flamingos
by a holding cell on the irani rock
border
the trip ended up shedding light on a
sprawling shadow war between america and
iran
for control of the middle east a war
which iran seems to be wedding
[Music]
we're at the national defense museum
which was set up by the
revolutionary guard a lot of this museum
focuses on the eight-year iran-iraq war
and speaks to the imperialist tyranny
and injustices of the west
i don't know what this is exactly
bunker office i like the bottle of booze
this is a saddam's little bunker
since 2010 the nuclear scientist
community
in this country has had targets on their
back
and have gone through a lot of
assassination attempts
many of them successful most recently
it was dr fakrisade there's one
scientist
who survived the assassination attempt
dr abbasi and he's coming here to meet
with us today
and we're going to look at the car that
he was in just before it exploded
this place is pretty epic first time
first time
really we are always in
work yeah
so this was the car that you were
driving
how does it make you feel today when you
see the car
for the first time after the attempted
assassination
sir that was not the response i was
expecting
that you would
[Music]
who do you think is responsible for
what is the main goal for wiping out
the top nuclear scientists in this
country
this was the first time he'd spoken to
foreign media and after we stopped
shooting
he actually told us he was scared for
his life while speaking to us out in
public
clearly this is not traditional warfare
but it's still one that's fought on all
fronts
[Music]
[Music]
oh
a movie director famous for his
patriotic depictions
of iranian militarism
[Music]
foreign
is
a legendary iranian general and
spymaster who before his assassination
under orders from president trump in
2020 orchestrated a vast rollout
of iranian hard and soft power across
the middle east
[Music]
foreign
when i walked in here today i thought i
was going to meet somebody who was
making government propaganda
so
if you had to place your films in a
genre
what genre would it be
[Music]
after this visit things started to get
more serious
we were driven to meet with an alleged
isis fighter who'd been captured by one
of silimani's militias
this was set to be the first time an
american crew had met an isis fighter
captured by iran
so we are in a hotel in an
undisclosed location in tehran uh
awaiting the arrival of two isis
prisoners
um who've been sentenced for execution
and they're being transported here um
they'd be
sure it's probably not good
the trouble was the agencies in charge
of following us
at least six according to our government
contacts couldn't always agree on what
we were allowed to film
all right guys it's a wrap there's a
problem with the transfer from the
prison we have no other details we're
going to try again tomorrow
we had some snacks for our special
guests
because we have no idea when they're
getting executed but we thought they
might light some cake
give them some tasty snacks
so it's the next day and the ministries
worked it out
and were able to transport an isis
prisoner to this
undisclosed location today we're told
that he was
trained to be a suicide bomber and
trained in syria and then came back into
iran and got caught
did you come here to speak with us on
your own free will
are you a member of isis
[Music]
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[Music]
did you have specific targets that you
were supposed to hit
we have two parity calibur
[Music]
and how big was isis's fight against
iran
foreign
[Music]
we couldn't verify the prisoner's story
independently and he was accompanied by
guards
but it was clear he had his talking
points he was furthering a narrative
about how hard iran is working to defeat
a terror group which the u.s
seems to have forgotten about that
narrative came from the top as well as
the bottom
hussein amir abdullahim known as mr
shadow
was described to us as sulimani's
right-hand man
an operative running the general's own
personal foreign policy
[Music]
do you think the fight against isis
could bring
iran and the united states closer
together
[Music]
we cannot allow isis to reopen and
regroup
and threaten people in the middle east
and europe and the united states and
elsewhere
america
what does the us need to do to get the
iranians
to agree to start discussions again for
the jcpoa
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
in the u.s iran's behavior has been
described as imperialism
but we heard time and again from the
iranians that they were simply reacting
to conflict across their border
either way their influence has grown
exponentially
it was time to go see for ourselves
we got in our crew vet and headed for
the iraqi border
so we are about 10 and a half hours
outside of tehran we've been driving all
night we're going to the
mehran border crossing into iraq
the the borders right now are closed up
here
uh due to cobin but they're being
especially open for us
so we can get across and connect with
the badder brigade
the plan was to meet up with the bother
brigade iran's oldest proxy drock
and perhaps the most powerful of
silimani's militias
since the u.s toppled saddam hussein's
regime in iraq
the bada brigade has served as iran's
enforcers in the country
and today are as famous for fighting
isis as for their brutal treatment of
anyone who crosses them
we are getting very close to the iran
iraq border
and we kind of don't know what's
happening hopefully the
father brigades are there and anxiously
awaiting our arrival and
that the iranians let us exit smoothly
um
we're hoping for the best
[Music]
yeah we're rolling
[Music]
so successful exit from iran
not uh a successful entry into iraq
we're kind of stuck in this 15 by 30
holding cell just waiting and no one
knows anything about anything
including us good times
[Music]
how you feeling now huh are you really
doing this
it's been six more than six hours now
that's a bummer oh and he's unlocking
the door
he's letting these guys through i
thought he was gonna
be giving us our freedom sun is going
down
they just turned the lights off in here
this doesn't bode well
everybody's gone radio silent are all
our people that's fun
[Music]
we can put the blame on the iraqi party
right now because
some iraqi parties are interfering with
the irishman's
are you saying that since we got
the message that intelligence
and interior ministry spoke about it for
four
for hours this afternoon but it's
resolved now since then they've
continued to interfere so the iraqis
who don't like the the
iran's kind of influence and power
in their country are the ones who are
meddling that's what he's saying right
so after spending
i think close to eight hours and that
weird holding cell in no man's land
between the
iran and iraq borders we finally
[Music]
we're let in
[Music]
[Music]
over 24 hours later we finally made it
i was really worried about exiting iran
that was my big fear
because we'd been tracked and monitored
by
you know six different agencies within
the government three of them
intelligence units i'm really happy
we're going to be sleeping
in a hotel never been so happy to be in
[Music]
baghdad
[Music]
in death suleimani who was designated a
terrorist by the us
looms large over iraq this country was
the crown jewel in his life's work
to spread iranian influence from the
mediterranean sea
to yemen in the south and through syria
and iraq
fighting off groups like isis and
seizing the initiative
as u.s influence in the region waned
last night at my direction
the united states military successfully
executed a flawless precision strike
that killed the number one
terrorist anywhere in the world kasim
salamani the pentagon claims that by his
militias
suleimani was responsible for more than
600 u.s deaths in iraq
this is all just the latest chapter in
u.s iranian relations
that have been fraught since the 1950s
and the cia orchestrated a coup in iran
against the democratically elected
leader in 1979
when the iranian revolution saw u.s
diplomats taken hostage
[Music]
so we are on the way to baghdad
international airport
to take a look at the assassination site
where trump ordered the drone strike on
general qasim suleimani
and abu mahdi albuhondas
there he is there's mohandas they
renamed the street after him
so one of the cars i think was attacked
here because you can see on the blast
wall
and then down there there's another the
rest of the wall where there also has
that kind of damage
on it
[Music]
so this is the memorial that they built
uh after the assassination
took place the paris got completely
mangled it's like they've been inverted
solimani was the second most powerful
man in iran after the supreme leader
mahondes here was revered
and the two of them together they were
the most
effective deterrents on the ground in
the fight against isis
[Applause]
so everybody in the iranian rock are
asking like well why did the us take
them out
is it messed up or was it super
intentional and they knew what the
consequences of it were gonna be because
it inflamed the tensions with iran
and it pissed everyone in iraq
[Music]
and from a foreign policy perspective
almost lead to all-out war
a few minutes after we arrived this guy
showed up
we're pretty sure this wasn't a chance
encounter
can you tell me why you came here
we saw you walking up and
looking very emotional as you were
walking up
[Applause]
can
foreign
[Music]
and did you know
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
if that meeting was orchestrated by
unseen iranian forces
our next interviewee likely played a
part in it
muhammad ali khabib oversees all media
and communications
for all iranian militias known as
hashida al-shabi
in iraq we paid him a visit at home
welcome thank you thank you for inviting
us into your home
this is amazing
[Music]
[Music]
ten years now can i open this
backwards let's finish the documentary
with this
[Music]
i really like your flamingos
why would you eat a flamingo
[Laughter]
this is totally unacceptable it's a
beautiful bird
what was your relationship with general
qasim solomoni
and abu madi o mohandas
it's a big question
[Music]
what is the kind of goal and purpose
of hashin al-shabi and what
their assassinations how that will
affect these groups
foreign
foreign
how closely linked is iran to the
hashido
shabby groups
foreign why do you think america
designated general soleimani and
abu mahdi as terrorists
enrique
foreign
next up was a meeting with hadi al-amiri
feared leader of the bother brigade
and now of all iranian militias in iraq
he once visited president obama at the
white house despite having been accused
by a u.s diplomat
of using power drills to pierce the
skulls of his enemies
and he has quite the origin story
your story is really fascinating to me
you were born in iraq
you moved to iran you fought in the
iran-iraq war
against iraq and the saddam regime
and then you started the bother brigades
while you were in iran
when we talk about iranian influence in
iraq does it start with you
and
and was it general suleimani who helped
put it all together was he kind of the
architect
of what the iraqi government looks like
today
why do you think the us killed the two
most powerful leaders
here in the fight against isis
the us said that there was an imminent
threat against them and that's
why they sent the drone and
and the missiles that that led to the
the death of these two
accounts you
so we we think of isis as having been
defeated you know that's that's what the
the news reports told us in america
but what level is their their threat
here today
mr
[Music]
we are driving through ashraf the main
base for
uh hashtal shabi shared by
you know the 50 plus groups in the
country
it's essentially they're kind of the
base for the resistance
to fight against isis and it's
absolutely massive
we don't know the specifics but if iran
is backing all of these groups they're
funneling a shitload of cash this place
[Music]
and does this gun it can it can rotate
all the way around right
you've got your hip and how far does it
shoot it's pretty huge
so that kid what wow that's far
do you feel like your soldiers are um
equipped enough
in their battles against isis
you must need a lot of weapons for the
battles that hostile shabby has been
fighting
where did the supplies come from
[Music]
how close has isis been getting to this
position
our ice is still coming here on a
regular basis are you still catching
them
so we are in tahrir square in baghdad
the green zone is
behind me over there yeah i've been here
four times since 2006 and every time i
come the u.s presence in this country
diminishes
and today there are 2 500 u.s troops in
this country which is
next to nothing compared to how it used
to be meanwhile there are a hundred and
thirty thousand
hosh del shabby soldiers out in the
field fighting isis right now
and that number is growing
the question i'm wondering right now is
what happens to the hundred and thirty
thousand hashtag
soldiers that are currently out in the
field fighting isis when that war ends
i mean this is ideological and their
power and influence is only growing
[Applause]
america
[Music]
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in june 2021 an election in iran may see
an even more hard-line president in the
iranian capital
with the us now increasingly disengaged
from the middle east
and no sign of iran and its proxies
going anywhere
it looks a lot like u.s taxpayers have
spent trillions of dollars
in countless lives only the hand control
of the world's most volatile region
to their adversaries in tehran
these are the unintended consequences of
the us invasion of iraq
the country has become a de facto
commonwealth state of iran shadow wars
continue to rage
and we're not even close to a resolution
[Music]
[Music]
you
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