Realtime Report: Iran and Israel

A VIRTUAL event, featuring Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute Paul Salem and moderated by interim CEO of the Council Jim Falk. The first missile strikes of Israel’s operation “Rising Lion” accounted for the most widespread single-day assault Iran has experienced since the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. They targeted Iran’s nuclear program and military encampment sites and killed some of Iran’s most important military leaders and scientists instrumental in their nuclear operations. In response, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones into the densely populated regions of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. What does this mean for the region and the possibility of a nuclear treaty? What role will the U.S. play in forging negotiations? What is the possibility of nuclear response? Join us for a RealTime Report on Thursday, June 19, featuring senior fellow at the Middle East Institute Paul Salem (joining from Beirut) and moderated by interim CEO of the Council Jim Falk. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Paul Salem is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI). He previously served as MEI’s president and CEO and as vice president for international engagement. His research focuses on political change, democracy and governance, social and economic policy, as well as regional and international relations in the Middle East. Prior to joining MEI, Dr. Salem was the founding director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, Lebanon (2006–2013). From 1999 to 2006, he served as director of the Fares Foundation, and earlier founded and led the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (1989–1999), Lebanon’s premier public policy think tank. Dr. Salem is the author and editor of several books and reports and writes regularly on his Substack blog, Thinking Middle East. ABOUT THE MODERATOR Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, currently serving as interim CEO of WACDFW. Additionally, Jim hosts the podcast World Now with Jim Falk. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.