Navigating the Strait of Hormuz: Regional Peacemaking in the U.S.-Iran War

With one-fifth of global oil supplies and the movement of critical LNG stuck in the crosshairs of a military standoff, the need for diplomatic off-ramps has never been more urgent. This panel brings together top diplomats and geopolitical experts to unpack the overlapping mediation efforts of key regional powers. From Pakistan’s frontline ceasefire negotiations to Qatar’s high-stakes maneuvering over nuclear frameworks and frozen assets, and Oman’s delicate balancing act of historical neutrality.

Join us as we explore how these three nations are acting as vital firewalls against catastrophe, attempting to bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran and how the two capitals respond.

Notes

Photos courtesy of the speakers.

Speakers

Giorgio Cafiero, CEO, Gulf State Analytics; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Georgetown University; Adjunct Fellow, the American Security Project

Alan Eyre, Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow, Middle East Institute; Retired Career Diplomat and Core Member of the U.S. Nuclear Negotiation Team with Iran (2000–2015); Founder and President, EyreAnalytics LLC.

Javad Heiran-Nia, Director of the Persian Gulf Studies Group, Center for Scientific Research and Middle East Strategic Studies in Iran

Shuja Nawaz, Founding Director, South Asia Center of the Atlantic Council; Former Director, International Atomic Energy Agency; Advisor to Pakistan's Government

Dania Thafer, Executive Director, Gulf International Forum

Moderator: Banafsheh Keynoush, Chair of the Member-Led Middle East Forum, Commonwealth Club World Affairs; Author, The World Powers and Iran: Before, During and After the Nuclear Deal

10:30 a.m. doors open & check-in
11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. program
(all times Pacific Time)