The Challenge of Iran
USIP launched “The Iran Primer: Power, Politics and U.S. Policy,” featured Ambassador Dennis Ross, Special Assistant to the President, followed by top experts discussing the internal and external crises facing Iran. "The Iran Primer," a joint product of the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, brings together 50 seasoned scholars on Iran from some twenty foreign policy think tanks, eight universities, and six U.S. administrations.
The West has struggled to understand how to deal with Iran since its 1979 revolution. On the eve of a new diplomatic effort, the challenge now looms even larger in the face of its controversial nuclear program, disputed 2009 election, growing human rights violations, and angry rhetoric. Difficult to engage yet impossible to ignore, Iran is the world’s most complex foreign policy dilemma.
USIP launched “The Iran Primer: Power, Politics and U.S. Policy,” featuring Ambassador Dennis Ross, Special Assistant to the President, followed by top experts discussing the internal and external crises facing Iran. "The Iran Primer,” a joint product of the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, brings together 50 seasoned experts on Iran from some twenty foreign policy think tanks, eight universities, and six U.S. administrations. Edited by Senior Fellow Robin Wright, the book and website offer a comprehensive overview of Iran’s politics, economy, military, foreign policy and nuclear program.
Explore Further
- Read more about The Iran Primer.
Speakers
9:00am - 10:00am
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Ambassador Dennis B. Ross, Keynote SpeakerSpecial Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Central Region, National Security Staff, The White House
Session One: Iran's Internal Crisis- What is Tehran trying to do?
10:00am - 11:15am
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Karim Sadjadpour on politicsAssociate, Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
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Suzanne Maloney on the economySenior Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution
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Alireza Nader on the Revolutionary GuardsInternational Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation
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David Albright on the nuclear programPresident, Institute for Science and International Security
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Robin Wright, ModeratorSenior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Session Two: Iran's External Crisis- What to do about Tehran?
11:15am - 12:30pm
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James Dobbins on engagementDirector, International Security and Defense Policy Center, RAND Corporation
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Kenneth Pollack on containmentDirector, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution
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Patrick Clawson on sanctionsDeputy Director of Research, The Washington Institute of Near East Policy
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Dov Zakheim on the military optionSenior Advisor, Center for Strategic and International Studies
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Ellen Laipson, ModeratorPresident and CEO, The Stimson Center
Explore Further
- Read the remarks of Amb. Dennis Ross from the event "The Challenge of Iran"
- Learn more about this event
- Learn more about "The Iran Primer: Power, Politics and U.S. Policy"
- Questions and Answers with Robin Wright, editor
- Listen to the primer's authors on The Diane Rehm Show
- Learn more about USIP's work on Iran
