Iran in the Balance: What's Next?

The Trump administration and Israel launched a military strike on Iran over the weekend with unclear aims and goals and limited consultation with Capitol Hill. While Trump has said he wants to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program completely, obliterate its ballistic missiles and “free its people,”  the endgame seems opaque at best. Now, what? Will Iranian reformers assume full power, and if not, who will? What are the implications for Iran’s neighbors and beyond? How long will Trump’s MAGA base – which elected him with the promise of no more wars and dead American troops  – stand by him, with fractures already showing? Lunch served.

Featuring Jason Rezaian,* Iranian-American journalist at the Washington Post and author of Prisoner: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison, Israeli journalist Emmanuelle Elbaz-Phelps,* Justin Logan,* Director of Defense and Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute and John Kirby, Director of the Institute of Politics and former press secretary for the US Department of Defense. Moderated by Jennifer Steinhauer, IOP senior director. 

*Guest will participate virtually.

In-person attendance for this event is open to current UChicago students only. If you are not a current student, you can tune in on our Youtube channel.

Thursday, March 5, 2026

12:30 - 1:30 pm CT

Institute of Politics