Special Episode: Europe and the Iran War
About this episode
This episode discusses the impacts of the Iran war on US-European relations with insights from experts.
This special episode of Middle East Focus features a conversation from MEI's Virtual Briefing Series. Host Alistair Taylor is joined by former National Security Council Senior Director Stephen Flanagan and MEI Senior Fellow Iulia-Sabina Joja to discuss the impacts of the Iran war on US-European relations. The conflict has hit Europe's economy hard and created deep divisions across the continent, even as some European countries play a quiet supporting role to the US. President Donald Trump has called for NATO member states to help secure shipping through the Iranian-blocked Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for international maritime trade. Flanagan and Joja explore the prospects for stepped-up European military involvement, the knock-on effects on the war in Ukraine, and the potential longer-term impact on the future of the US-European alliance. Watch the Virtual Briefing Series here . Recorded on March 31, 2026.
People in this episode
Host: Alistair Taylor
Guests: Stephen Flanagan, Iulia-Sabina Joja
Topics covered
- Iran war
- US-European relations
- military involvement
- economic impact
- NATO
- maritime trade
Keywords
- Iran war
- US-Europe relations
- military involvement
- NATO
- economic impact
- Strait of Hormuz
- Ukraine
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: National Security Council, Middle East Institute
Places: Europe, US, Iran, Ukraine
More episodes of Middle East Focus
- Violence, Settlements, and Creeping Annexation in the West Bank
- A New-Old Regime in Tehran
- Bonus Episode: Stalled Talks and Next Steps for the US and Iran
- How the War May Reshape Iran's Political Future
- Iraq in Between Iran and the United States
- As Iran Weakens, Can Hamas Survive?
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Middle East Focus podcast page.