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Wednesday, July 1, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. / Eastern Time
Registration is NOT REQUIRED to view the program.
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Background and Context
The newly announced U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the ambitious Bürgenstock talks, repeatedly tested ceasefires, and the practical realities of military deconfliction have raised fundamental questions about the future of regional security and diplomacy.
As the international community navigates an evolving Middle East security architecture, our distinguished panel of leading geopolitical, military, and energy security experts will examine this pivotal moment in high-stakes diplomacy.
The discussion will explore the strategic implications of the U.S.-Iran MOU and assess whether it represents a credible pathway toward durable peace and long-term regional stability—or simply another mechanism for crisis management and conflict de-escalation.
The panel will also examine the recently concluded Trilateral Framework Agreement between the U.S., Israel, and Lebanon, evaluating its implications for border security, deterrence, regional normalization, and the broader balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Finally, the discussion will address one of the region’s most consequential strategic issues: the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Panelists will assess the risks to global energy markets, freedom of navigation, maritime security, and international commerce, as well as the implications for U.S. and allied policy. Join us for a timely and thought-provoking discussion as our panel examines whether these emerging diplomatic initiatives signal the beginning of a more stable regional order—or simply the next chapter in an enduring cycle of conflict, deterrence, and uneasy coexistence.
Welcoming and Introduction:
- Dr. William Lawrence, Senior Academic and Research Fellow-in-Residence, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations | Bio
Moderator:
- Dr. Abderrahim Foukara, Distinguished Fellow for U.S.-Arab Affairs and Media Leadership, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations; Former Washington D.C. Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera | Bio
Speakers:
- Ms. Joyce Karam, Editor-in-Chief, Al-Monitor | Bio
- Dr. Gawdat Bahgat, Distinguished Professor, National Defense University | Bio | Recent Article
- Dr. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Co-Director, Middle East Energy Roundtable | Bio