On February 3, 2024, the United States carried out some 85 airstrikes against Iranian-backed Militias in Iraq and Syria. The strikes were carried out in retaliation for the killing of three US service people on January 29 by a militia drone attack on a US base in Jordan. Over the last month, the United States and Britain have also carried out dozens of airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi-militias in Yemen following repeated Houthi raids on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Does Israel's ongoing war in Gaza--and repeated clashes between Israel and Hezbollah--risk pulling Washington and Tehran into a direct confrontation? This library talk will examine the history of US-Iranian relations since the 1950s, highlighting historical sources of tensions, as well as the effects of the Israeli-Hamas conflict on the Middle East in the present. The prospect of a major regional conflict continues to grow as Iran continues its nuclear program and some U.S. Senators have even called for direct US airstrikes on Iran.

Presenter: Brandon K. Gauthier completed his doctorate in Modern History at Fordham University in New York City. He is an Adjunct Professor of History for Fordham University and the Director of Global Education at The Derryfield School. He speaks passionately, and loudly, about his enduring interest in the lives of people--both ordinary and extraordinary--who find themselves caught up in the waves of history. He lives with his wife and two daughters in New Hampshire. 

Virtual Program. Registration Required. This program WILL be recorded. Register to receive a link to the recording.