The joint virtual session between the Iranian Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) and the Royal Institute for International Relations (Egmont) about the regional, bilateral and international issues was held on Tuesday, April 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;Peyman Saadat, General director of West Asia department; Javad Kachouian, and Hossein Gharibi, Senior Experts at IPIS, on one side,

and,

Marc Otte,Julien-Dacey, Crisis Group’s Deputy Program Director for the Middle East, Axel Kenes, Belgian Foreign Ministry’s Director-General for Multilateral Affairs

The session was held in the form of two panels, “Regional Developments with Emphasis on Persian Gulf Developments and European Policies Towards These Developments”, and “American Approach Towards JCPOA and Iran-Europe Relations’ Landscape”, to answer the following questions, (1) What are the main challenges to peace and security in the Persian Gulf region? (2) How is the EU’s strategy shaped through the Persian Gulf region? (3) What are the latest developments in the EU’s approach, especially towards the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean? (4) What could be the new US administration’s scenarios and approaches about the JCPOA? (5) What are the main dynamics for strengthening Iran/EU relations?

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

• Dynamics in the Persian Gulf and West Asia regions are undergoing fundamental developments and events. Although there are conflicts and clashes and some crises in the Persian Gulf region, a number of positive developments are going on that are reducing the tensions and must be more supported by all actors.
•  Success in the recent developments in Vienna for reviving the JCPOA after the failure of Trump’s maximum pressure policy will have enormous effects on the new regional arrangements and creation of peace and stability in the region. However, some efforts made by some regional actors for ramping up tensions can confront the measures taken with serious challenges.
• The EU’s recent measures in imposing sanctions on some Iranian figures can leave negative impacts on the expansion of the EU-Iran ties. However, if the EU shifts course on its actions, the EU-Iran relations can grow on all political, economic, cultural and trade levels.