- April 21, 2026
- ; 8:30
- -
- April 21, 2026
- ; 10:00
Since the coordinated strikes by Israel and the United States on Iranian targets in late February 2026 and Tehran’s subsequent military response, the conflict risks escalating into a wider regional conflict – with potentially severe consequences for the Middle East’s security order, the broader international system, and the global economy.
Against this backdrop, the Aspen Institute Germany will convene an expert round table to assess the evolving strategic landscape. At the center of the discussion is how the conflict may develop under conditions of direct military confrontation. What role are regional states – particularly in the Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean – playing in shaping the conflict’s dynamics? How are external powers, especially the United States, influencing military calculations and potential diplomatic options? And what does this mean for Europe?
The discussion will also consider the broader implications of the war: How might the confrontation reshape regional security architectures and existing deterrence frameworks? And what does the escalation mean for an international order already under strain from intensifying geopolitical competition and growing bloc formation?
Joining the panel will be Dr. Cornelius Adebahr, Independent Political Analyst and Associate Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations, Prof. Dr. Naika Foroutan, Professor of Social Sciences at the Humboldt-University in Berlin, Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, Senior Director of the Counter Extremism Project, Simon Vaut, Deputy Head of Division at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Prof. Dr. Reza Asghari, Member of the German Bundestag, CDU/CSU.
Following the conversation, the floor will open for a discussion under the Chatham House Rule, inviting participants to contribute their own strategic assessments and questions.
