In an era of escalating global tensions, economic policy has become a defining force in international relations. The strategic use of the U.S. dollar—through sanctions, trade restrictions, and financial policies—has reshaped alliances, disrupted economies, and redefined geopolitical power structures. However, what are the long-term implications of weaponizing the world’s most dominant currency, and how effective are these policies? This panel will examine the impact of U.S. monetary policies on international trade, security, and economic stability. Join SAIS Rethinking Iran for a thought-provoking discussion on the role of financial influence in global politics and the efficacy of economic policy in an increasingly uncertain world.

Moderator

Narges Bajoghli is the Faculty Lead and Associate Professor of Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She also serves as the co-director of the SAIS Rethinking Iran Initiative.

Panelists

Abraham L. Newman is a Professor of Government and the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and Director of the BMW Center for German and European Studies.

Edward Fishman teaches at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and is a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy.

Juan José Gómez-Camacho, who has previously served as an ambassador, is currently a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute and a Professor at the Johns Hopkins University SAIS.