U.S., Iran, and the Middle East After the Twelve-Day War
A Discussion with Vali Nasr and Barbara LeafThursday, October 30
4:30–6 PM
In Person and Online (Register for virtual attendance)
The June 2025 Twelve-Day War—with U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and Iran’s missile retaliation on a U.S. base in Qatar—sharply escalated tensions between these longtime adversaries and unsettled the wider Middle East. How did we get here, and how do Washington and Tehran understand each other’s aims when shaping their strategies? Join regional experts Vali Nasr and Barbara Leaf, in conversation with Naghmeh Sohrabi, as they explore what this turning point could mean for U.S.–Iran relations, nuclear diplomacy, and regional stability.
Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
Barbara A. Leaf is a Senior International Policy Advisor for Arnold & Porter, and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
Naghmeh Sohrabi is the Charles (Corky) Goodman Professor of Middle East History and the Director for Research at the Crown Center for Middle East Studies.