This week on Babel, Jon talks with Colin Clarke, a senior research fellow and the director of policy and research at The Soufan Center. They discuss what Iran is set to gain in Afghanistan, Iran's relationship with al Qaeda and the Taliban, and potential areas of cooperation or conflict between Iran and the United States as the U.S. withdraws from the region. Then, Jon, Natasha, and Danny continue the conversation about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and its implications for great power competition and cooperation in the Middle East.

Colin P. Clarke, “The U.S. Doesn’t Have to Choose Between Counterterrorism and Great Power Competition,” World Politics Review, August 23, 2021.

Jon Alterman, "Stories of Afghans left behind will hurt America around the world," The Hill, August 18, 2021.

Colin P. Clarke and Asfandyar Mir, “Making Sense of Iran and al-Qaeda’s Relationship,” Lawfare, March 21, 2021.

Colin P. Clarke and Ariane Tabatabai, “What Iran Wants in Afghanistan,” Foreign Affairs, July 8, 2020.

Episode Transcript, "Iran's Interests in Afghanistan," CSIS, September 7, 2021.