“Strategic Implications of the Iran War” panel held at STRATCOM Summit

“From Regional Tensions to Global Fractures: Strategic Implications of the Iran War” panel was held at the International Strategic Communication Summit (STRATCOM) 2026, organized by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications in İstanbul.

The panel, moderated by SETA Washington’s Executive Director Dr. Kadir Üstün, brought together Dr. Ali Vaez (Crisis Group), Dr. Hakkı Uygur (National Intelligence Academy), Jon Alterman (CSIS), and Prof. Murat Yeşiltaş (Ankara Social Sciences University).

Vaez criticized the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and emphasized the need for a win-win approach, noting that “Iran just wants to bargain.” Alterman questioned whether a genuine trust relationship between the U.S. and Iran ever existed. Yeşiltaş called the war “a strategic nightmare,” warning that if the conflict spreads to the Gulf, it could take a far more dangerous turn — and underscoring that Türkiye’s priority is to prevent further escalation.