CPL Conversation - Iran and the United States: Where Do We Go From Here?
AUGUST 2, 2026 • 5:00-7:00PM PT / 8:00-10:00PM TIME ET
Iran has long been a focus of U.S. foreign policy, raising questions about nuclear development, regional security, human rights, oil, diplomacy, and the safety of people throughout the region. Recent events have brought renewed attention to questions about what the United States is trying to accomplish and what role it should play.
At this meeting, we’ll explore how people across the political spectrum think about national interests, restraint, strength, diplomacy, military action, and U.S. involvement in international conflicts.
We’ll ask questions such as:
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What experiences, memories, or sources of information have most shaped the way you think about Iran?
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What actions or concerns involving Iran, if any, do you believe called for a response from the United States?
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What should the United States be trying to accomplish through its policy toward Iran?
How should leaders weigh diplomacy, sanctions, and military action? -
When the choices are uncertain and the consequences may be serious, what principles should guide U.S. foreign policy?
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Knowing what we know now, do you think the United States should have acted differently? If so, how?
How should we weigh the goals of U.S. actions against their effects, including loss of life, energy prices, taxpayer costs, and regional stability?
This will be an opportunity to explore different perspectives on state power, national standards, local control, and what it means to govern a country made up of 50 different states.
Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting. Once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open, and the doors close, approximately 15 minutes after the hour.
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