If You're Listening

The brutal and bloody career of Iranian President Raisi

Earlier this week the President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in bad weather.Raisi was a phenomenally important figure in Middle Eastern politics — not just Iran's President, but the likely next Supreme Leader of Iran.He got there through acts of extreme brutality, showing his willingness to do anything to defend the Iranian status quo.How did Ebrahim Raisi become the heir-apparent to the Iranian Supreme Leadership, and what could happen now he's gone?Listen to our other episodes about Iran:<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/if-youre-listening/iran-israel-and-the-calculus-of-revenge/103735036" target="_blank">Iran, Israel and the calculus of revenge</a><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/if-youre-listening/the-ayatollah-who-dreamed-of-an-iranian-caliphate/103492372" target="_blank">The Ayatollah who dreamed of an Iranian caliphate</a><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/if-youre-listening/how-the-shah-s-cancer-led-to-iran-s-rift-with-the-us/103461806" target="_blank">How the Shah's cancer led to Iran's rift with the US</a>Subscribe to If You're Listening on the <a href="https://radio.abc.net.au/help/apps">ABC Listen app</a>.Check out our series on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0_VTGzZj2U" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0_VTGzZj2U</a>

The world is on fire. There's a coup. Inflation is through the roof, and AI is taking our jobs. What does it all mean? Each week, Matt Bevan explains the biggest story in world news while hiding in his basement from assassins and authoritarian regimes.

Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.

The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change.

There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.