A Roundtable Discussion with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, 2 October 2025

On 2 October, we convened a roundtable discussion with H. E. Dr. Saeed Khatibzadeh, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran and President of Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS).

Hosted at The Athenaeum Club in central London, the meeting brought together senior diplomats and parliamentarians from Iran, the UK, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Jordan, and Ireland, as well as journalists and analysts. The main themes of the session were the challenges and opportunities facing West Asia and North Africa. Dr. Khatizbadeh’s visit also came less than a week after the UN re-imposed ‘snapback’ sanctions on Iran for its nuclear programme, and Iran recalled its ambassador to the UK in response. These served as further key issues for discussion.

Dr. Khatibzadeh updated participants on the mood in Iran following strikes on the country by Israel and the US (June) and Israeli strikes on Qatar (September). His remarks were crucial to how participants then considered the future of West Asia and the Middle East, and various factors which could determine its course. Participants discussed the role of the US and Iran’s wider engagement with countries in and beyond the Gulf region, from Qatar and Iraq to Syria, Palestine, and even China.

The session was followed with a lunch. This gave an informal opportunity for exchanges on the relationship between Iran and the UK, including both its history and the possibilities for its future. Dr. Khatibzadeh echoed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian when he confirmed that, despite the challenges facing the Middle East and the wider world, Iran remains open for diplomacy and dialogue.