Jere Van Dyk Interviews Vali Nasr
Vali Nasr, Jere Van Dyk

Having trouble with audio or video playback? Click here

"For the Iranians, the Taliban and Saddam were a problem, and the United States removed both of them," says Nasr. "So, actually, if there is an opportunity for Iran to become a regional power, it came because of the 2001 attack on Afghanistan and the 2003 fall of Saddam. So they benefited from what the United States did."

• Jere Van Dyk Interviews Vali Nasr (Videos)
• Interview with Vali Nasr (Transcripts)