WASHINGTON (February 6) - The Middle East Policy Forum at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs will host a panel of experts on U.S.-Iran Relations, 47 years on. The panel will examine how almost five decades of mistrust and ongoing challenges continue to stand in the way of reconciliation.
On February 11, 1979, the Pahlavi monarchy officially fell at the hands of revolutionaries, prompting the triumphant return of Ayatollah Khomeini ten days earlier. It ended the Cold War alliance that had bound Washington and Tehran for decades and transformed the relationship from a partnership to one defined by volatility. This moment marks the peak of the Iranian Revolution—one of the most consequential movements in modern history.
Event attendees can join the conversation in person or virtually. For additional details, visit the event website here.
WHO:
- Sina Azodi, Assistant Professor of Middle East Politics; Director of the Middle East Studies (MES) MA Program at The George Washington University
- Alan Eyre, Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow at The Middle East Institute
- Barbara Slavin, Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington
- Naysan Rafati, Iran Senior Analyst at Crisis Group
WHEN:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
WHERE:
In Person Attendance:
The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs
Room 602
Washington, D.C. 20052
Virtual Joining Option:
Media Guidance: Any media interested in attending must RSVP in advance to Nadia Payne at nadia [dot] payne
gwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu). Please indicate whether you will need a camera location.
-GW-