A Nation Must Think Before it Acts
Iran on the Brink
A nation must think before it acts.
Iran on the Brink
January 16, 2026 | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | National Security Program
About the Event
Economic misery has sparked mass protests in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The protests have led to severe repression and reasonable questions about the future of the current government in power. President Trump appears to be preparing military options to aid with the uprising, raising questions about the efficacy of American-led military strikes for broader national security goals. Where is the protest headed? Is the Islamic Republic on the verge of revolution, or will the state manage to retain control of the instruments of power?
Dr. Aaron Stein, FPRI president, will sit down with Dr. Afshon Osotovar, FPRI non-resident senior fellow and Associate Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.
Please note that this is a briefing for current FPRI members. If you aren’t currently a member but would like to attend this and future events, please contact our Events and Development Manager, Christine Datesman at cdatesman@fpri.org.
Speakers
Afshon Ostovar - Afshon Ostovar is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and the Associate Chair for Research and an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School.
Aaron Stein - Aaron Stein is the President of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI).
Your Support Makes Our Work Possible
Become a member today and connect with FPRI’s community of experts and supporters.