The International Institute for Peace (IIP) warmly invites you to attend our upcoming public event,
A War Without Frontlines – Iran’s Struggle for Survival
Date: Tuesday, 14th April, 2026
Time: 18:00 CET
Venue: IIP, Möllwaldplatz 5/7, 1040 Vienna
PANELISTS
• SHOURA ZEHETNER-HASHEMI, Executive Director, Amnesty International Austria
• OSNAT LUBRANI, Diplomats Without Borders ; former UN Coordinator for Development and Humanitarian Aid; Associated Researcher at OIIP
• HEINZ GÄRTNER, Chair of the Advisory Board, International Institute for Peace; Professor at the University of Vienna
• EDWARD KNUDSEN, Doctoral Researcher in International Relations, University of Oxford; Fellow, IWM
MODERATOR
• SAMUEL KERSCHBAUMER, Project Assistant, International Institute for Peace (IIP)
CONTENT
This public panel examines the ongoing conflict in Iran, where U.S. and Israeli airstrikes have triggered a broader cycle of military escalation across Iran and the region. Targeting military installations, leadership compounds, and critical infrastructure, these strikes have provoked waves of Iranian retaliation, including missile and drone attacks on neighboring countries and U.S. positions. The current escalation is the culmination of years of geopolitical strain, marked by Iran’s diminishing influence in the region, the limits of its proxy strategy, and domestic unrest including mass protests and brutal state crackdowns.
The discussion will explore the strategic rationale behind foreign interventions, the nuclear and regional calculations driving military actions, and the domestic political dynamics that shape Iran’s response and future. Notably, the United States launched its strikes without publicly naming clear objectives or seeking formal congressional approval, raising questions about transparency and accountability. Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has pursued aggressive operations aimed at containing Iranian influence, often prioritizing domestic political signaling and hardline deterrence over broader regional stability. At the same time, European governments are navigating a delicate position: committed to regional stability yet determined not to be dragged into a wider war.
Panelists will analyze how civil resistance, economic hardship, and state repression interact, and how the Iranian population navigates the intersecting crises of war, economic collapse, and political upheaval. Beyond Iran’s borders, the conflict has heightened regional tensions, threatening vital routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and drawing neighboring states into a security crisis. The panelists will assess diplomatic efforts to contain escalation, the humanitarian toll on civilians, and the broader implications for regional stability, global energy security, and foreign policy.
THE EVENT WILL BE HELD IN ENGLISH.
Snacks and drinks will be offered after the event!
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ELEVATOR WILL BE OUT OF SERVICE DURING THE EVENT. ACCESS TO THE EVENT SPACE IS VIA THE STAIRS.
By participating in this event, you agree that any photos or recordings taken that include footage of your person may be published or used in any other way by the organizers of the event.