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2. Iran and the Israel-Hamas War
- Author:
- Alistair Taylor and Alex Vatanka
- Publication Date:
- 11-2023
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Middle East Institute (MEI)
- Abstract:
- On this week's episode, MEI's Editor in Chief Alistair Taylor talks to Iran Program Director Alex Vatanka about Iran and the Israel-Hamas war. As fighting rages in Gaza and the prospects for regional escalation continue to mount, Iran will remain a critical actor to watch. It is not only Israel’s main regional foe but also the leading provider of military aid and training for Hamas. Given the centrality of Iran in this latest Middle Eastern war, understanding how Tehran views the conflict and its endgame will be critical.
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Hamas, Armed Conflict, Escalation, Military Aid, Regional Politics, and October 7
- Political Geography:
- Iran, Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza
3. Russia’s War on Ukraine: Iran’s Growing Role and the Nuclear Threat
- Author:
- Alistair Taylor, Philip Breedlove, and Iulia-sabina Joja
- Publication Date:
- 11-2022
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Middle East Institute (MEI)
- Abstract:
- In today's episode, Alistair Taylor sits down with experts from MEI's Frontier Europe Initiative to assess the trajectory of Russia's war on Ukraine. They discuss Russia’s growing attacks on critical infrastructure, its recent deployment of Iranian drones and their impact on the battlefield, the potential nuclear threat, and where things might be headed from here. Today's guests are General Philip Breedlove and Iulia-Sabina Joja. General Breedlove is a retired United States Air Force General who served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and Commander of U.S. European Command. He’s the Distinguished Chair of MEI’s Frontier Europe Initiative and a Distinguished Professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. Iulia is a Senior Fellow and Director of MEI's Frontier Europe Initiative and Director of its "Afghanistan Watch" project. She teaches courses on European security at Georgetown and George Washington universities.
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Nuclear Weapons, Infrastructure, Weapons, Drones, and Russia-Ukraine War
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Middle East, and Eastern Europe
4. After Qassem Soleimani: The Islamic Republic’s Strategy for the Arab World
- Author:
- Tarek Osman, Ariane Tabatabai, Morad Vaisibiame, and Alex Vatanka
- Publication Date:
- 08-2020
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Middle East Institute (MEI)
- Abstract:
- The January assassination of Qassem Soleimani shocked the leadership in Tehran. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had not expected the United States to escalate tensions between the two countries in such a manner. The assassination of Soleimani was an effort to change Tehran’s strategic calculations and policies for the Middle East. With continued sanctions imposed by the United States, regional tension, and the loss of a key decision maker, Iran is facing intensified challenges to achieve its goals at home and in the region. The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to welcome a group of experts to assess Iranian policy towards the Arab world following the death of Soleimani and to discuss how Arab states are reacting to Iran’s actions. How has Iran’s strategy in the Arab world performed following Soleimani’s death? In what ways have proxy forces in the Middle East that operate under Tehran’s command been affected? Who is left to make key decisions about the Islamic Republic’s involvement in the Arab states, and are we faced with a weaker IRGC Quds force after Soleimani? Finally, what do Arabs think of Iranian policies aimed at them?
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Sanctions, Qassem Soleimani, Assassination, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), and Regional Power
- Political Geography:
- Iran, Middle East, Arab Countries, and United States of America
5. Navigating Diplomacy: US Policy Options in Iran
- Author:
- Douglas London, Scott Modell, Alex Vatanka, and Mohsen Sazegara
- Publication Date:
- 06-2020
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Middle East Institute (MEI)
- Abstract:
- The Trump administration’s unprecedented “maximum pressure” campaign has so far failed to result in a breakthrough in the long-running US-Iran standoff. This simple reality leaves the US with very few fresh policy options as Washington looks to navigate the various challenges it considers the Islamic Republic to pose to American interests. Among remaining untested policy options is the idea that the United States should commit to pursue a policy of regime change in Tehran. This should be led by a combination of efforts spearheaded by American intelligence services. Advocates of such a policy course favor this path as they see no realistic chance for any kind of deal with the Islamist ruling class in Tehran. How would such a US-led covert action agenda against Iran look like? What are the key components of such a policy of “regime change”? Would it really represent a risk-free transition from the militant theocracy that is the Islamic Republic to a democracy? The Middle East Institute (MEI) is delighted to host a panel of experts to address these questions
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Regime Change, and Democracy
- Political Geography:
- Iran, Middle East, and United States of America
6. US and Iranian Strategies for a Biden Administration
- Author:
- Alex Vatanka, Hannah Kaviani, Behnam Ben Talebiu, and Jon B. Alterman
- Publication Date:
- 11-2020
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Middle East Institute (MEI)
- Abstract:
- The looming arrival of the Joe Biden administration in January 2021 provides the leadership in Tehran with an opportunity to seek a qualitatively different relationship with the United States. President-elect Biden has already expressed a desire to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal, which the Trump administration abandoned in 2018. While Tehran awaits to see what, if any, conditions the Biden team has for the resumption of the diplomatic track and removal of US-led sanctions, a policy fight is already under way inside the Iranian state about the future of US-Iran relations. The American question in Tehran is not just a foreign policy file but ultimately linked to the question of whether the Islamic Republic opts to continue a revolutionary and militant foreign policy or settles for a path of de-escalation with Washington and other rivals. How much of this policy competition in Tehran will shape Washington’s next steps vis-à-vis Iran? To discuss these matters and other key challenges in the path of US-Iran relations in the coming Biden administration, we are delighted to host a panel of experts.
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Geopolitics, and Joe Biden
- Political Geography:
- Iran, Middle East, and United States of America
7. Understanding EU-MENA Relations: Current and Changing Dynamics
- Author:
- Przemysław Osiewicz, Alex Vatanka, and Suzanne Kianpour
- Publication Date:
- 02-2020
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Middle East Institute (MEI)
- Abstract:
- The relationship between the European Union and the Middle East is facing a critical period of change, given the changing leadership in key European Union bodies, rising tensions with regard to Iran, and increasing confrontation between the United States and Iran. The Middle East Institute is pleased to invite you to a conversation with MEI scholar Przemysław Osiewicz, who will discuss his recently released paper series on the impact of leadership changes in key EU bodies such as the EU high representative for foreign and security policy, the European Commission, and the European Council on EU-MENA relations. He will be joined by MEI Senior Fellow Alex Vatanka and moderator Suzanne Kianpour to explore divergences between the United States and the EU approaches in their policies toward Iran, internal divisions within the EU on engagement with Iran, the role of economic factors, and the future of the JCPOA.
- Topic:
- International Relations, Security, Foreign Policy, Politics, Geopolitics, and Leadership
- Political Geography:
- Iran, Middle East, United States of America, and European Union