Sanchez Effect

‘Trump is desperate to make a deal. But Iranians are very hard negotiators’ – former US Army officer

In this episode of Sanchez Effect, we dive into the potential conflict map between Iran and the US, as Washington is basically camping out right at Iran’s front door with a huge fleet, and threats are flying around like confetti. They’re attempting to hash things out, but what if those talks go sideways? Trump keeps saying it’ll be a bad day for Tehran if things escalate, but will it really? According to our guest military expert, the answer is yes – but not just for Tehran.

Former US Army officer Stanislav Krapivnik points out that Russia and China are already sending signals by planning joint drills in Iran. For Russia, Iran is the gateway to the Caucasus and Central Asia; while for China, it opens the doors to Central Asia and beyond. They’re not about to let Iran crumble.

And remember last year’s 12-day war? Iran didn’t go all out then – it was hitting military bases, avoiding populated areas. But if this now escalates into full-blown war, it’s a very different story. Israel is tiny, and most people live in a few big cities, so missing a target would be nearly impossible. No matter where the bombs land, they’re ound to hit someone. What else could happen? We’re covering everything – weapons, ships, missiles and more – in this latest episode, only on RT.

‘Occupation of the US by Israel – that’s the world we live in’ - Dr. Hasan Unal

In the latest edition of Sanchez Effect, Rick and his guest, Baskent University International Relations Professor Dr. Hasan Unal, dissect the unsettling dynamic between the two countries. Even as Washington scrambles to negotiate with Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister waltzes into the Oval Office, guiding discussions like it's his own playbook. This blatant influence has sparked a shift among Americans, with polls showing growing opposition to Israel's sway in US politics and a strong aversion to war with Iran. So, who will Trump heed - his own constituents or Netanyahu's whispers?

Rick questions why Gulf States are so silent while Israel expands its influence in the region. Dr. Unal suggests that they may actually fear Iran more than Israel, despite the latter being the more tangible threat. Convincing Arab States of this fact is part of an ongoing security dilemma. What’s the way forward? Tune in to our interview for all the insights - only on RT!

Hot debate at ‘Sanchez Effect’: Rick Sanchez and his guests talk on Iran, Israel

Yoni Ben-Menachem: ‘Trump has been anti-Iran for years; he doesn’t need Netanyahu to push him.’
Christopher Helali: ‘But millions from Miriam Adelson certainly help pave the way!’

In the latest episode of ‘Sanchez Effect’, we dive into a heated debate over who is right and wrong – as Iran and Israel are on different sides of history.

Middle East correspondent Yoni Ben-Menachem insists that Israel can’t trust Iran, citing its repeated promises to obliterate the country. He even mentions Trump’s claim that Tehran is just weeks away from developing a nuclear bomb – no wonder Israel made a pre-emptive strike.

But journalist and geopolitical analyst Christopher Helali pushes back, arguing this alarmist talk has been the Israeli playbook for years. ‘They’ve been saying Iran is on the brink of getting nuclear weapons for ages, and yet here we are in 2026 with no bomb in sight!’ He believes it’s actually Israel that stirs up tensions in the region, while Ben-Menachem claims Tehran is the one to blame.

Rick throws in a provocative question about Israel funding over 90% of US politicians. Ben-Menachem says: ‘What’s wrong with that? Is it illegal? If wealthy Jews want to support their cause, what’s the harm?’ He argues it’s not government-sponsored. Chris counters that, since they’re all operating under the Israeli banner, it doesn’t matter where the money comes from, it’s still Israel First, not the US, which raises concerns about sovereignty.

Curious for more insights? Catch the latest episode exclusively on RT!

‘Iran will not give anything more because the last time we had a deal, the US tore it up’ – Mostafa Khoshcheshm

It’s the final day of the Sanchez Effect trip to Iran. Rick sums up everything that has been said and what he has learned from this journey. He talks to Iranian journalist Mostafa Khoshcheshm, a professor at the Iranian University of Applied Sciences. Unlike officials, Khoshcheshm is very skeptical about a peaceful resolution with the US. He says Iran wants to ensure that it can keep its peaceful enrichment of uranium, like it had under the JPCOA deal, but Trump will not accept this as the voters will say he ditched the same deal that he now wants to promote as a victory. They also spoke about the economic situation in Iran and skyrocketing inflation which hit Iranians and sparked the protests. The professor says the use of national currencies is the solution, calling it “one of the simplest ways to exclude the impact of the dollar.” Now Rick is returning to Moscow where we will bring you more Sanchez Effect – here on RT International.

Some seek peace only to prepare for war. We seek peace for the sake of peace – Iranian government spokesperson

Another exclusive interview from Rick Sanchez’s trip to Iran. This time his guest on RT’s Sanchez Effect is Iran’s government spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, with a challenging set of questions: Nothing is off-limits, no taboo topics. She is asked about the Western media’s claims that protesters detained during the recent riots would be executed. She says that such people were deceived by foreign agents who infiltrated their movement, and they must be embraced by the Iranian nation to bring them back into society. Mohajerani also insists that Iran is not trying to obtain nuclear weapons, as they have been prohibited by the Ayatollah. She says Iran and its principle religion, Islam, have a focus on peace. Her country does not want any confrontation: ‘We respect those who respect us’. Catch this interview and more from Iran – here on RT International.

‘Iranians celebrate independence from America and other Western influences’ – Rick Sanchez

This episode of RT’s Sanchez Effect, part of our special coverage in Iran, marks the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, and is the topic of discussion between Rick and Foad Izadi – a professor of political communication at the University of Tehran.
Professor Izadi says the Islamic revolution and today’s Iran are not enemies of the US and the West – that the slogans of “Death to America” are in response to the aggressive foreign policies of these countries. Izadi assures Rick that the Iranians want peace and the proof is in how they vote – they elected Masoud Pezeshkian, who is an advocate of dialogue with the West, despite Washington’s regular efforts to undermine the path of peace.

Rick and Professor Izadi, however, disagree over Trump’s intentions – Rick thinks Trump is honest and wants to find a non-violent solution, while his guest doubts this, saying that the US war machine is moving towards the coasts of Iran and that it will be hard to stop it. Be sure to watch our special coverage directly from Iran – on RT International.