Roya Boroumand is cofounder and executive director of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran. She holds a PhD in the history of international relations from the University of Sorbonne, specializing in Iran’s post-World War II history.
Norman Roule is a nonresident senior advisor with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and an associate fellow with the Middle East Institute. During his three-decade career with the CIA, he served as National Intelligence Manager for Iran, among other senior roles.
Brief Analysis
Join us for an expert webcast looking into the state of the Iranian regime and Iranian public opinion after twelve days of war with Israel. Watch live starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
Whether the ceasefire with Israel and proposed talks with the United States progress or fall apart, the Islamic Republic has a full slate of difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks, as do the Iranian people. How has the regime acted—both at home and in foreign policy terms—when past crises left it vulnerable and under great pressure? What is the public thinking after twelve days of war? Did the conflict and the regime's internal security response shift how they view the Islamic Republic and their future in it?
To discuss what Iranians might do next and the implications for broader Middle East policy, The Washington Institute is pleased to announce a virtual Policy Forum with three distinguished experts, moderated by research director and Kassen Senior Fellow Dana Stroul:
Holly Dagres is the Libitzky Family Senior Fellow in the Institute’s Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy. A leading voice on Iranian social movements and generational change, she curates The Iranist newsletter.
Roya Boroumand is cofounder and executive director of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran. She holds a PhD in the history of international relations from the University of Sorbonne, specializing in Iran’s post-World War II history.
Norman Roule is a nonresident senior advisor with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and an associate fellow with the Middle East Institute. During his three-decade career with the CIA, he served as National Intelligence Manager for Iran, among other senior roles.
The Policy Forum series is made possible through the generosity of the Florence and Robert Kaufman Family.
