The Iran Wars: History, Ideology, And Prospects For Peace

Join Abbas Milani, Hoover research fellow and Hamid and Christina Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University, and Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the Iran War, its effects on the Iranian people, the Iranian regime, and prospects for peace and security in the Middle East and beyond.

Reflecting on the war in Iran at this critical moment, Milani and McMaster discuss the conditions inside the country, the state of the regime, and the widening gap between society and the ruling system. They examine how power is exercised within an increasingly fragmented structure and whether the regime’s grip is weakening under internal pressure. The conversation explores possible futures for Iran and the broader Middle East, including the roles of major powers such as China and Russia, prospects for negotiations with the United States, and the importance of supporting the Iranian people. Milani highlights Iran's historical significance and the Hoover Institution's mission of scholarship and policy engagement in shaping the understanding of Iran and its future.

Recorded on April 21, 2026.