2026 Iranian Studies Unit Conference

​The Iranian Studies Unit (ISU) at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies is holding its Sixth Annual Conference, titled “Security Dynamics in Iran: Internal and External Dimensions,” on 14-15 October 2026.

The ISU’s 2026 annual conference will explore Iran’s evolving security landscape amid shifting regional dynamics, internal pressures, and global power realignments. The conference will reflect on the state of Iran’s security by examining its failures, achievements, survival strategies, and methods of recalibration. In addition to assessing both internal and external pressures on the Islamic Republic’s se​​​curity, it will address the demise of the so-called Axis of Resistance and the growing need for a new deterrence strategy amid escalating geopolitical threats, including the Trump administration’s mounting pressures and Israel’s alarming military expansion in the region. The conference will pay close attention to Iran in an era of uncertainty, exploring the challenges confronting its security and assessing where Iran has failed or succeeded in managing vulnerabilities and overcoming its shortcomings.

The conference will further discuss related issues, including Iranian security and foreign policies following the 12-Day War; the role of the Revolutionary Guards in policymaking; the survival of the Iranian government and its defining attributes; the state of foreign intervention in Iran; the future prospects of the Iranian government and the position of the Supreme Leader amid mounting external and regional pressures; the impact of international sanctions on Iran’s security; the fall of the Axis of Resistance; Iran’s relations with neighboring countries within the current geopolitical climate shaped by renewed calls for regime change; and the consequences of Trump’s deliberate isolationist policies toward Iran, among other relevant topics.

The Iranian Studies Unit invites academics and researchers to participate by submitting a research paper on related themes of the conference.

Participation Guidelines

• The Conference Organizing Committee will receive abstracts of the proposed research papers (maximum 400 words). Each abstract must be received by no later than Friday 10 April 2026. To submit research proposals, please fill out the online form​.
• The abstract should clearly define the research question and explain the objectives and methods of the project. Only original contributions that have not been published or accepted for review and publication elsewhere will be accepted. The abstract must be headed by the paper’s title and author’s name(s).
• Following the approval of the abstract by the organizing committee, prospective participants should send their final draft of the research papers (6,000-10,000 words, including footnotes and references) no later than 2 August 2026. All submitted research papers will be subject to peer review.
• The Organizing Committee’s approval of a proposal does not guarantee approval of the completed research paper’s presentation at the conference. The Organizing Committee will inform each researcher of its decision and may ask researcher to act on suggestions for improving the quality of the research, or any other amendments.
• The conference will cover the costs of transportation and accommodation of researchers whose papers have been accepted for presentation. However, it will not grant compensation for the research paper presented, and all research shall be deemed the intellectual property of the conference.
• Papers may be submitted in Arabic or English.

​For inquiries related to the conference, please contact: iranianstudiesunit@dohainstitute.edu.qa

Conference venue: Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Doha, Qatar

Please review the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies publishing guidelines.