From Diplomacy to Military Force: The Future of Iran’s Nuclear Program

Israel has launched wide-ranging strikes against military and nuclear targets across the Islamic Republic, with officials citing Tehran’s rapid nuclear advances, continued support of proxy attacks against Israel, and unprecedented vulnerability. How effective does the operation appear to be in degrading Iran’s nuclear program? What impact might Israel’s strikes have on Tehran’s ability and willingness to retaliate? Will the showdown draw in other actors in the Middle East and beyond? And how should the Trump administration respond, particularly if U.S. forces are attacked or Israel requires substantial defensive support?

To discuss these and other questions, The Washington Institute will hold a virtual Policy Forum with four distinguished experts, to be moderated by Executive Director Robert Satloff:

Michael Eisenstadt, the Institute’s Kahn Senior Fellow, director of its Military and Security Studies Program, and author of its recent study Attacking Iran’s Nuclear Program: The Complex Calculus of Preventive Action.

Zohar Palti, the Institute’s Viterbi International Fellow and former head of the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Policy and Political-Military Bureau.

Dennis Ross, the Institute’s Davidson Distinguished Fellow and former senior official in the Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Obama administrations.

Dana Stroul, director of research and Kassen Senior Fellow at the Institute; former deputy assistant defense secretary for the Middle East in the Biden administration. 

The Policy Forum series is made possible through the generosity of the Florence and Robert Kaufman Family.