Show Notes
Iran has executed over 2,200 people in 2025 alone. Is this a sign of power — or a regime on the brink of collapse?
In this episode of The Middle Ground Mic, Joe is joined by Zolal Habibi, a human rights and women's rights advocate and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
They discuss Iran's escalating executions, mass arrests, nationwide protests, internet shutdowns, and why women and young people are increasingly leading the resistance. Zolal explains why both foreign intervention and diplomatic appeasement have failed — and what a real, Iranian-led alternative could look like.
This episode explores: • Why executions spike when regimes lose control • The role of women in Iran's resistance movement • The legacy of the 1988 massacre • Why Iranians reject war and dictatorship alike • What accountability without invasion looks like
A grounded, honest conversation about Iran's future — and why it matters to the world.
RESOURCES & LINKS: Learn more about the Iranian resistance: https://maryamrajavi4change.com
National Council of Resistance of Iran: https://www.ncr-iran.org
Iran Human Rights Monitoring: https://iran-hrm.com
Organization of Iranian American Communities: https://oiac.org
Iran Freedom: https://iranfreedom.org
Chapters
00:00 The State of Iran: Fear and Control 02:46 Uprisings and Resistance: A Historical Perspective 05:23 The Role of Leadership in the Iranian Resistance 08:02 The Nature of Protests: Unity and Diversity 10:57 The Impact of Internet Shutdowns on Communication 13:30 The Psychological Warfare of the Regime 16:18 The Evolution of Resistance Units 19:00 The Role of Women in the Resistance 21:54 The Roadmap for a Free Iran 24:50 Empowerment Through Perseverance 27:08 The 10-Point Plan for a Free Iran 31:08 The Regime's Last Chapter 37:04 International Accountability and Support 43:30 Connecting for Change
Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/tmgm]
More from The MiddleGround Mic
Are we raising our children to succeed, or are we simply hoping they survive?
What happens when partisan politics become more important than your own family? Right now, parents and children are literally stopping speaking to one another over differences of opinion—but it doesn't have to be this way.
What actually happens behind the scenes of Michigan's election system?
What do China, Greenland, Iran, artificial intelligence and the price of gasoline have to do with each other?
Can an Independent candidate realistically win a seat in Congress? Former firefighter Mike Thurow joins host Joseph Steagall on The MiddleGround Mic to share why he bypassed party politics to run in Wisconsin's 6th District. Thurow breaks down the corrupting power of corporate money, the challenges of third-party ballot access, and how direct public service shapes his approach to representation.