In your new film, it's obvious that you really like Iran. You even describe it as Wonderland. Isn't that pushing it?

No, it was like tumbling down the rabbit hole, discovering Iran for the first time. I think it is remarkable that here is an Islamic society ruled by a theocracy where drug addiction is openly discussed, there's rehab, there's HIV education. You wouldn't find that in most pro-western "democratic" Arab regimes. Here is an Islamic country that is being prodded and poked and held up to scrutiny by its own people.

What about the more troublesome parts of Iranian society?

Yes, there is oppression, people being stoned and hanged and all that.

None of that is in the film.

No, because there surely is an argument and a need to present the other side of Iranian society, where changes are being made.

What do you think would happen if there was an attack on Iran?

It would be the best thing for the most conservative forces within the clergy. The Islamic revolution is 27 years old. It is trying to make itself relevant for this generation, but is running out of steam. An attack on Iran would destroy all the young voices. Who is going to applaud an attack on their country? It would be a shot in the arm for the hardliners and that's why you will find people like Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel peace laureate, and Akbar Ganji, the political prisoner, going around Washington urging anyone who will listen to prevent an attack.

Do you have regrets about your coverage of Iraq?

Absolutely. We ran around, we did pieces on weapons inspectors, Saddam, the regime, and almost nothing about Iraqi people. Now everyone is saying, "How relevant is sectarianism in Iraq?", and if we had described the people more, what their fears were, maybe we'd have a few more ideas. But we shouldn't make that mistake again and think the Iranian people are desperate to have a bombing campaign so the regime will fall, because it's not as simple as that.

How's it going at Al-Jazeera?

Very well. It's a very professional product. Now comes the test of showing how alternative a voice it is going to be - is it another mainstream channel, or is it really going to break the monopoly of western presentation?

Do you miss the blanket coverage that you were getting?

Me personally? No.

You were one of the highest-profile Muslims at the BBC. Couldn't you have had more influence by staying there?

I don't think so. Many people from many backgrounds at the BBC have tried.

Why did you leave?

I wanted to be an independent journalist who did projects for the people I wanted. I wanted to be free.

You called the BBC a white man's club. Is that still the case?

I suppose. It's the mentality. I'm in some ways guilty of this - I went to public school, I went to Oxford. I speak at a lot of schools with Somali kids and they say, "How do I become a journalist? We may be from the same community, but I don't have your accent." So it's a class thing rather than about being white necessarily. It's much more subtle.

Aren't you preaching to the choir at Al-Jazeera?

No, Al-Jazeera is absolutely there for a western audience. Its ambition is not to be the in-house channel for Muslims - it wants to be watched and listened to in Downing Street and the White House. I'm trying to reverse the information flow.

Are people suspicious of you for having gone there?

Definitely, and it still evokes, "No I don't want to be interviewed on Al-Jazeera", even in this country.

How do you feel about the "Scud Stud" business?

People have asked, "If you were not black and if you didn't look the way you do, do you think anyone would have demeaned you in that way?" And there is an element of that. The interesting thing is that the public hardly ever comes out with it now. It's only ever really used in the media.

Does it bother you?

At times it does, but they could be saying much worse things. At first I thought, it's good way to burst one's balloon - don't take yourself too seriously. But any time my name appears in any newspaper, it will be there: "Rageh Omaar, the BBC's former Scud Stud in Iraq." That's it - it's red fleece, standing on a rooftop.

But you are wearing a red fleece.

Only to protect myself from my children's snot. And it's kind of more burgundy this time.

· Rageh Inside Iran is on BBC4 at 9pm tonight.