Pressure Points: The Iran War’s Growing Economic and Security Impact

With the US-Israeli air campaign intensifying, Iranian drone activity persisting across the Gulf, and the Trump administration weighing the potential forcible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iran war is now entering a critical phase. For an in-depth discussion on the military and diplomatic dynamics driving the conflict, the economic and energy security consequences of a prolonged impasse, and the range of scenarios that may unfold in the weeks ahead, the Middle East Institute invites you to an online webinar on Monday, April 6, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

The virtual expert panel will include MEI Distinguished Military Fellow Lieutenant General Sam Mundy, USMC (Ret.), former Commander of Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT), along with MEI Senior Fellow Dr. Karen E. Young, an expert on Gulf political economy and energy markets. This webinar will be moderated by MEI’s Vice President for Policy, Dr. Ken Pollack.

Speakers

Lieutenant General Sam Mundy, USMC (Ret.) served 38 years in the Marine Corps and is currently the President of Once a Marine LLC. Before retiring, Sam served as the Commander of Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT), responsible for the employment of Marines in the Middle East.

Dr. Karen E. Young is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI), where she leads the Economics and Energy Initiative. She is also a senior research scholar at the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy. A political economist, her work focuses on the Gulf and broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with particular attention to the intersection of energy, finance, and security.

Dr. Kenneth M. Pollack (Moderator) is Vice President for Policy at the Middle East Institute. Dr. Pollack began his career as a Persian Gulf military analyst at the CIA and served twice on the National Security Council, first as Director for Near East and South Asian affairs and then as Director for Persian Gulf affairs.