The joint virtual session between the Iranian Institute for Political and International Studies(IPIS) and the Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (FESEI) of Spain about the regional and international issues was held on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. The session was attended by Dr.Mohammad KazemSajjadpour, Deputy Minister of MOFA & President of IPIS; Mr.Majid Ghafelebashi,Research Deputy at the Center; Kambiz Sheikh Hassani, Ali khoshroo and Mohammad Nik Khah, Senior Experts at IPIS; Hassan Ahmadian, Professor at University of Tehran; Jose Maria Alvarez, President  of Miguel Alvarez Foundation; Marinio Molina, Aljandro Verdejo and Jose Ventura, Top Researchers at the said foundation.

The session was held in the form of two panels, “Examining Latest Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, West Asia and North Africa”, “The JCPOA and the Impact of the US elections on it”, to answer the following questions. (1) What will be the consequences of the new US administration on the West Asia region? (2) What are the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region? (3) What are the impacts of the new US administration on the international issues (4) What are the prospects of the Transatlantic relations after the BREXIT and the new US administration coming to power?

Here are the most important issues touched upon at the session:

• At present there is a serious transitional period in the US in all terms that has many impacts on the other actors in various regions of the world. It is unprecedented that in the US history that a presidential inauguration ceremony be secured by 25 thousands of military forces during the swearing-in ceremony. it is clear that Trump lost the election but Trumpism is still alive.
• The most important point about the Middle East is the issue of imbalance in the region. This imbalance exists at the regional and national level. Over the last four years, the US has had a destructive role in the region, while Iran has always tried to play a constructive role in the Syrian and Yemeni crises.
• Europe, especially Spain, has always been a traditional partner for Iran. Since 2003, Iran has provided Europe with the opportunity to end the unnecessary Iranian nuclear crisis through diplomacy, but unfortunately, Europe failed to seize the opportunity. This coupled with inaction in enforcing the JCPOA led to Iranian distrust in Europe. Therefore, Europe can make up for its inaction after trump’s departure and play a more constructive role than it did in the past.