Turmoil in the Persian Gulf—Are Iran and Saudi Arabia Poised for More Conflict?

An independent research organization promoting new ideas for the advancement of global security, prosperity and freedom.Founded in 1961 by strategist Herman Kahn, Hudson Institute challenges conventional thinking and helps manage strategic transitions to the future through interdisciplinary studies in defense, international relations, economics, health care, technology, culture, and law.Hudson seeks to guide public policy makers and global leaders in government and business through a vigorous program of publications, conferences, and policy briefings and recommendations.Hudson Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization financed by tax deductible contributions from private individuals, corporations, foundations, and by government grants.

Hudson Institute

The recent attacks on two of Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic missions in Iran have exacerbated sectarian tensions in the Middle East. Is the region on the brink of another bloody conflict, pitting two major regional powers against each other? Iran and Saudi Arabia are already fighting each other in Syria — Tehran through its allies like Hezbollah and Riyadh via various proxies in the anti-Assad rebellion — and in Yemen, where Houthi rebels supported by Iran are fighting Saudi forces on the kingdom’s own border. However, a direct conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia would have immediate and dramatic effects felt throughout the world.
The Obama White House hoped that its nuclear deal with Iran would help stabilize the Middle East, but it seems rather to have energized the clerical regime in its efforts for regional domination. What are the choices ahead for this administration and its successor as it seeks to extinguish, rather than stoke, the region’s furies? How should policymakers deal with Iran? How should they counsel longstanding American allies, like Saudi Arabia? What impact could the latest tensions have on stability in Gulf states such as Bahrain?
On Friday, January 15, Hudson Institute will host a timely lunchtime panel with experts Ali Alfoneh, Michael Doran, and Phillip Smyth, moderated by Lee Smith.
 Ali Alfoneh 
Ali Alfoneh is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and the author of Iran Unveiled: How the Revolutionary Guards Is Transforming Iran. 
 Michael Doran
Michael Doran is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute and worked on the National Security Council staff in the administration of George W. Bush. 
 Phillip Smyth 
Phillip Smyth is an adjunct fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and author of the blog "Hizballah Cavalcade." 
 Lee Smith 
Lee Smith is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. 
 
This event will be live streamed on <A TITLE="Hudson Institute" HREF="http://www.hudson.org" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Hudson's homepage.</A>

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}