The second panel in a series organized by the Center for Gulf Studies and Global Policies, titled “War in the Gulf and Iran: From Regional Conflict to Global Crisis” was held on April 21, 2026, in the Teoman Duralı Conference Hall.
Moderated by Assist. Gökhan Ereli, the panel featured Assist. Prof. Mustafa Caner, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yetim, and Assist. Prof. Hamdullah Baycar as speakers. The panel delved deeply into Iran's regional strategy, the changing positioning of Gulf countries, and the dynamics of how the ruptures within the Hezbollah axis transformed into a global crisis.
The panel emphasized that the tension in the region is not merely a current crisis, but an extension of a deep-rooted historical process. The transformation within Iran's domestic politics was highlighted as a critical variable in this context. It was noted that in the new era shaped by Mojtaba Khamenei's leadership aspirations, Tehran has moved away from diplomatic solutions and adopted a more radical and hardline stance.
In particular, it was assessed that Iran is instrumentalizing the Gulf states as a strategic pressure tool in its asymmetric power struggle with the US. In this process, it was stated that Tehran aims to destabilize the global system and the US economy by putting pressure on the region through military and financial objectives. While the presence of China and Russia in this equation is seen as significant support, it was noted that a fully open cooperation has not yet been established.
When evaluating the position of the Gulf countries, it was emphasized that although these actors were not directly involved in the war, they were among those most affected by the conflict. It was highlighted that the United Arab Emirates, in particular, had become a primary target due to its strategic alliance with Israel under the Abraham Accords, while Qatar's difficulties in achieving diplomatic maneuvering space were discussed.
Internal disagreements among regional countries, such as the Saudi-UAE and Qatar-Bahrain rivalries, were noted as seriously hindering the development of a common defense response. However, the prediction was shared that diplomatic bridges between Iran and the Gulf might not be completely destroyed in the post-war period.
The final section of the panel discussed how the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict altered the balance of power in the region. It was emphasized that the loss of Hassan Nasrallah, whose symbolic value was even greater than that of Khamenei, constituted a profound turning point for the resistance front. However, it was noted that Hezbollah's resistance was not yet completely broken, thanks to its military capacity exceeding that of the Lebanese army and its deeply rooted internal structure. Despite the loss of its charismatic leadership, the organization's institutional memory and operational depth remained sustainable.
The discussions surrounding Hezbollah's disarmament and the future of Lebanon-Israel relations formed the closing agenda of the panel, as the most critical element in the balance of asymmetric deterrence in the region.
The panel concluded by emphasizing that the dynamics of the conflict in the Gulf have now transcended regional boundaries and become an integral part of the global power struggle.
