How the Iran War is Reshaping the Region

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran on the Horn of Africa and regional geopolitics.

In this episode of The Horn , Alan is joined by Hafsa Halawa, an independent political analyst and mediation specialist, to discuss the fallout of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran in the Horn of Africa. They examine the immediate disruptions to fuel, fertiliser and shipping, and what a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could mean for economies across the region. They discuss how the new Middle East war will impact the intertwined geopolitics between the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, including the mounting strategic importance of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab strait. Finally, they discuss how the war may impact tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and how it might affect flashpoints across the Horn, including Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Alan

Guest: Hafsa Halawa

Topics covered

• Iran War
• Horn of Africa
• Geopolitics
• Middle East
• Economic Impact
• Regional Tensions

Keywords

• Iran
• Horn of Africa
• Geopolitics
• Middle East
• Strait of Hormuz
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Economic Disruptions
• Red Sea
• Bab al-Mandab

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: International Crisis Group

Places: Iran, Horn of Africa, Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab strait

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• Tiny Djibouti, and Its Prime Real Estate · June 4, 2026 · 27 min
• Sudan, and a Region and World in Upheaval · May 15, 2026 · 36 min
• Somalia’s Election Standoff and New Inflection Point · April 30, 2026 · 36 min
• Bonus Episode: After Three Years of War in Sudan, What Hope for a Ceasefire? · April 9, 2026 · 42 min
• What’s Really Going on in the Horn? · March 19, 2026 · 36 min