From Tehran to Tel Aviv: Geopolitics, Fear and Possibility
Monday 16. February / kl 18.00
Litteraturhuset Wergelandsveien 29, Oslo
Moderated by: Alexander Zlatanos Ibsen
Iranian researcher and activist
Alex Vatanka
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI)
Beni Sabti
Iran expert at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)
Geopolitics is often discussed through maps, strategies, and breaking news. But it is also lived shaped by memory, identity, fear, and long historical relationships that continue to influence the present. This moderated conversation explores the historical relationship between Iran and Israel, the realities of today, and the questions that increasingly shape the future. How did this relationship evolve from cooperation and cultural proximity to deep hostility? What is happening inside Iran now, and how do internal dynamics, ideology, and power struggles shape Iran’s relationship with Israel and the wider region.
Moderator:
Alexander Zlatanos Ibsen
Alexander Zlatanos Ibsen is a sociologist (PhD) and news editor at Minerva, with extensive experience in political analysis and public debate. His academic background in sociology, combined with his work covering politics, culture, and foreign affairs, gives him a strong foundation for moderating complex and sensitive conversations. Ibsen brings both analytical depth and journalistic sharpness, with the ability to ask precise, probing questions while ensuring a balanced and nuanced exchange. His experience in navigating polarized topics in the public sphere makes him an ideal moderator for a conversation that requires intellectual rigor, clarity, and thoughtful dialogue.
Alex Vatanka (via videolink)
Alex Vatanka is a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington, D.C., where he leads the Institute’s work on Iran. He is a leading expert on Iranian foreign and security policy, with a particular focus on Iran’s regional role and its relationship with Israel. Born in Tehran and educated in the United Kingdom, Vatanka combines academic expertise with regional insight. He will join the conversation via video link to offer an analytical perspective on Iran’s role in the Middle East and Iran–Israel dynamics.
Beni Sabti
Beni Sabti is an Iran expert at the INSS. Born in Iran and raised under the Islamic Revolution, he escaped to Israel in 1987 and later served in the IDF as a researcher specializing in Iranian culture, cognition, and media. He holds an M.A. in political science and public communications from Bar Ilan University and is a frequent lecturer and commentator on Iran. Sabti also served as a cultural advisor to the Apple TV series Tehran.
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