Ambassador Michael Gfoeller, Founder of The Gfoeller Renaissance Foundation and former U.S. diplomat, analyzes in this interview with Jacob Heilbrunn the major geopolitical consequences of the war in Iran.
According to him, the potential collapse of the Islamic Republic could pave the way for a post-Islamist Iran, deeply transformed by a generational shift and the growing rejection of religious governance.
For Gfoeller, such a development would not concern Iran alone. It could shake Islamist movements across the region, weaken actors such as the Muslim Brotherhood, and reshape strategic dynamics involving Russia, China, and the war in Ukraine.
The former diplomat also believes that this moment could mark a turning point in global military strategy — the era of drones and robotic systems — while reinforcing the international position of the United States.
A Conversation exploring the possible transformations of the Middle East and their implications for the global order.
Michael Gfoeller: “A Post–Islamic Republic Iran Could Reshape the Global Balance”
by
March 2026
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