U.S. and Israel Strike Iran

Just eight months after the end of the twelve-day war, President Trump has ordered “major combat operations” against Iran. Before the start of Operation Epic Fury on Saturday, the Trump administration offered a list of rationales to justify U.S. military action, including finishing off the regime’s nuclear program, halting its ballistic-missile program, compelling it to stop sponsoring terrorist proxies across the Middle East, and standing up for the freedom of the Iranian people.

What should U.S. military objectives be now that the United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran? And what policies would best advance U.S. security, help the Iranian people, and improve the prospects for longer-term stability in the Middle East?

To discuss these urgent questions, The Washington Institute is pleased to announce a virtual Policy Forum with Holly Dagres, Dennis Ross, Michael Singh, and Dana Stroul, to be moderated by Segal Executive Director Robert Satloff.

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.

Dennis Ross, the Institute’s Davidson Distinguished Fellow, has served in senior White House positions in multiple Democratic and Republican administrations, including as a top advisor on Iran.

Michael Singh is the Institute’s managing director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow. He served as senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration.

Dana Stroul is the Institute’s director of research and Kassen Senior Fellow. Previously, she served as deputy assistant defense secretary for the Middle East in the Biden administration.

The Policy Forum series is made possible through the generosity of the Winkler Lowy Foundation.