Iran Protests: Consequences for the Region and Opportunities for the Trump Administration

Recent unrest in Iran has led to fierce confrontations between security personnel and protesters. Demonstrations have spread quickly across the country, further undermining the legitimacy of the Rouhani regime. Key upcoming policy decisions regarding U.S. sanctions and the certification of the Iran nuclear deal will set the tone for the Trump Administration’s policy towards Iran. On Tuesday, January 16th, Hudson Institute hosted a discussion assessing the policy options available to contain and curtail Iran’s influence in the region and the potential consequences of inaction. The panel consisted of Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress; Charles Lister, Senior Fellow and Director of Counter-Extremism & Counter-Terrorism at the Middle East Institute; Omri Ceren, Managing Director of Press and Strategy at The Israel Project; and Hudson Senior Fellow Michael Pregent. The discussion was moderated by Joyce Karam, the Washington Bureau Chief of Al-Hayat newspaper.