The Three Ayatollahs: An Unbreakable Dynasty?
William Dalrymple and Anita Anand, hosts of Empire, are joined by one of Britain’s foremost experts on Iran for a timely look into a nation at a crossroads.
How has the influence of the Ayatollahs impacted Iran since the 1979 revolution? Does the Islamic Republic’s grip appear to be fracturing? What role have other nations played in shaping Iran’s fate? And as the regime faces economic collapse, regional setbacks and a disillusioned younger generation, what comes next for a civilisation that has outlasted empires?
Expect sharp analysis, vivid storytelling, and the warmth, wit and occasional mischief that have made Empire a global phenomenon.
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and founding director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews, and President of the British Institute of Persian Studies. His books include Modern Iran Since 1797, The Politics of Nationalism in Modern Iran and Confronting Iran.
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06 Sep 2026, 1pm
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