On January 21, 2026, a roundtable discussion titled “The Situation in the Middle East: Risks of Military Escalation Around Iran” was held at the Izvestia Multimedia Information Center.
During the discussion, experts examined the risks of direct military escalation involving the United States and Israel, as well as the factors affecting the likelihood of such a scenario. Particular attention was paid to the domestic political challenges facing the Islamic Republic of Iran. The participants also addressed the broader regional context of the ongoing developments.
On January 21, 2026, a roundtable discussion titled “The Situation in the Middle East: Risks of Military Escalation Around Iran” was held at the Izvestia Multimedia Information Center.
During the discussion, experts examined the risks of direct military escalation involving the United States and Israel, as well as the factors affecting the likelihood of such a scenario. Particular attention was paid to the domestic political challenges facing the Islamic Republic of Iran. The participants also addressed the broader regional context of the ongoing developments.
Participants:
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Andrey Kortunov, Expert, Valdai Discussion Club;
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Vladimir Sazhin, Senior Researcher, Center for Middle East Studies, Institute of Oriental Studies, RAS;
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Lyudmila Samarskaya, Head of the Regional Relations Study Group, Center for Middle East Studies, IMEMO RAS;
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Elena Dunaeva, Senior Researcher, Center for Middle East Studies, Institute of Oriental Studies, RAS;
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Ivan Bocharov, Program Manager, RIAC.
