University of Idaho panel to examine war with Iran
Faculty experts will provide context on the expanding conflict, global reactions and what could come next during a free public event March 10
March 9, 2026
MOSCOW, Idaho — An expert panel of University of Idaho faculty members will discuss the ongoing war with Iran during a free event at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, in the ISUB Clearwater-Whitewater Room on U of I’s Moscow campus. It will also be livestreamed at uidaho.edu/live.
The panel is co-sponsored by the Martin Institute and the Department of Politics and Philosophy and includes faculty members from those units, as well as the School of Global Studies. It will address the war in Iran, U.S. considerations, the perspectives of countries in the wider Middle East, the reaction of European allies and what might come next.
“This should be an informative session, and we’ll attempt to provide additional context beyond what you may hear in the media,” said Bill Smith, director of the Martin Institute.
The latest round of violence between Iran and the United States began on Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel targeted Iranian leaders and military facilities, including nuclear and ballistic missile sites. Iran’s responses since then have expanded the conflict to at least a dozen additional countries in the region.
The U.S. and Iran have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1979 and have often clashed in international forums in the 47 years since then. A deal reached in 2015 by the two countries plus other parties sought to limit Iran’s capacity to develop nuclear weapons, but that deal was withdrawn in 2018 by the U.S. and tensions have remained high since then. The Iranian regime has recently been facing international and domestic pressure to moderate its policies at home and abroad.
The Martin Institute and Department of Politics and Philosophy are housed in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. Both units organize lectures and panel discussions suited to nonpartisan audiences on topics such as war and peace, human rights, socioeconomics, resources and development.
Media contact
Bill Smith
Director of the Martin Institute
University of Idaho
509-339-3461
bills@uidaho.edu