War in Iran: Faculty Perspectives on Recent Events and the Future of the Islamic Republic

Iran has entered one of the most consequential crises in its recent history when the United States and Israel launched coordinated and unprovoked air strikes across the country on February 28. These strikes killed hundreds, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran since 1989. The country has retaliated with missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases, Israel, and other targets in the Gulf countries, raising the risk of a full-scale regional war.  How did we get here? What is the role of ideology on both sides in how the conflict has gotten to this point, and how might it define where we go from here? What immediate political and institutional challenges does Iran face in the wake of Khamenei’s assassination? What domestic and international factors are shaping U.S. decision-making, and what effects might they bring to bear on the region and the international system? The panel will address these questions.

Panelists: Ata Anzali, Febe Armanios, Caileigh Glenn, Sebnem Gumuscu