Has the Iran War Transformed the Middle East's Future?

About this episode

The episode discusses the transformative effects of the Iran War on the Middle East's future.

The war with Iran has roiled the economies of the Middle East, shattered trust between Iran and Arab Gulf states, challenged security arrangements, and highlighted the region's geopolitical importance. But looking ahead, how much has the war really changed the region's future, and what is likely to remain more constant? Vali Nasr, Michael Ratney, Mona Yacoubian, and Susan Ziadeh joined Will to discuss how the war has reshaped the Middle East. Maria Fantappie and Vali Nasr, "Can Saudi Arabia Keep Hedging?" Foreign Affairs, May/June 2026. Mona Yacoubian, "Why “Mowing the Grass” Won’t Work in Iran," CSIS, April 17, 2026.

People in this episode

Host: Will

Guests: Vali Nasr, Michael Ratney, Mona Yacoubian, Susan Ziadeh

Topics covered

• Middle East geopolitics
• Iran War impact
• Arab Gulf relations
• Security arrangements
• Economic effects

Keywords

• Iran War
• Middle East
• geopolitics
• Arab Gulf states
• security
• economy
• trust

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Foreign Affairs, CSIS

Places: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Middle East

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