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Thursday, August 13, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. / Eastern Time
Registration is NOT REQUIRED to view the program.
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Background and Context
As diplomatic efforts over the future of the Strait of Hormuz face uncertainty, the possibility of renewed confrontation raises critical questions about Iran’s response options and the broader security implications for the Gulf region.
Please join us to examine how the failure of diplomacy could trigger a new escalatory phase. The discussion will explore potential scenarios following a breakdown in negotiations, including Iran’s ability to expand the conflict beyond its borders through pressure on maritime routes, energy infrastructure, and regional security infrastructure.
Particular attention will be given to the role of Iran-aligned actors in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the Red Sea region and how these networks could be activated to impose political, military, and economic costs on the United States, its regional partners, and the global economy.
Our panelists will discuss the future of Gulf security in an environment where deterrence, diplomacy, and escalation are increasingly interconnected. Experts will analyze whether a renewed confrontation is containable and what strategic options are available to Gulf states, the United States, and other international actors.
Welcoming and Introduction:
- Dr. Fadi Hilani, Director of the Levant and Middle East Area Studies Program, 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:
- Dr. Dania Arayssi, Program Head and Senior Analyst, New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy | Bio
- Dr. John Sfakianakis, Chief Economist and Head of Economic Research, Gulf Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House | Bio
- Dr. Amin Tarzi, Politician in Residence, University of Southern California | Bio
- Dr. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Co-Director, Middle East Energy Roundtable | Bio