News & Analysis Event Summaries

Keeping Hope Alive Amid Conflict: Insights from Iran, the Gulf, and Global Action to Support Women’s Rights

  • Kim Hart & Gihan Elhadidy

 A GIWPS ‘Meet the Moment’ discussion on the gendered impacts of the Iran conflict and its regional spillover, with a focus on protecting women and advancing rights.

Tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran remain high despite the extension of a ceasefire that has paused active fighting in the Iran War. The ceasefire remains fragile, and human suffering continues to persist as a result of the conflict. The conflict is not only impacting Iran, but its spillover into the Gulf, the second front of the war in Lebanon, and the large-scale disruption of goods and oil have all had devastating consequences for civilians, and in particular, women. To respond to the crisis and highlight the perspectives and situation of women, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) convened a virtual discussion to examine the dual impact of this conflict in Iran and the Gulf with a focus on women in the region. 

In the conversation moderated by GIWPS Executive Director Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Nazenin Ansari, managing editor at Kayhan London and Kayhan Life, discussed the humanitarian situation and what she is hearing from people in Iran. Dr. Dania Thafer, executive director at Gulf International Forum, discussed the war’s implications for the Gulf States and the impact of U.S. intervention. The conversation explored urgent actions needed to protect civilians, particularly women, and what to expect as this conflict evolves.

Ansari began by highlighting the extreme challenges and suffering facing the Iranian people following the 100th day of the conflict. Leading up to the war, millions of Iranians were already living below the poverty line due to domestic issues, corruption, and sanctions. This has worsened due to the conflict and over 50 days of a total internet shutdown, cutting off key communications, safety, and employment options. The Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been cracking down on women and protest movements for decades, has increased its targeting of dissenting voices in and outside of Iran, both digitally and physically, in recent months. This compounds regime violence against civilians, including the execution of over 1,600 people in 2025 alone and massacres in January 2026 by the regime, which some estimate killed more than three times as many people as during the massacres in Srebrenica during the war in Bosnia. At least 3,000 people have been estimated killed due to the current war with the U.S. and Israel, including countless women and girls. The regime’s lack of bomb shelters, hiding of regime officials in civilian areas, and insufficient resources to protect civilians all exacerbate these risks. Ansari noted the Islamic Republic announced that over one million jobs have been lost due to the conflict, and history shows that when companies fire staff in Iran, they often fire women first due to patriarchal norms, so women are likely suffering the most in terms of employment, as well.

When asked what should be done now to protect and support Iranian women, Ansari listed recommendations for the international community. 

  • Coordinated international action to avoid legitimizing or normalizing the Islamic Republic’s role in international human rights or women’s rights. For example, the recent nomination of Iran to serve on the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)’s Committee for Program and Coordination (CPC), with only the U.S. voting no. This committee contributes to UN policy on human rights, women’s rights, and security, and the inclusion of Iran legitimizes the regime’s perspectives on these issues. 
  • Supporting mechanisms and training that could lead to free and fair elections in Iran. Concrete steps must be taken to ensure that such elections are achievable rather than aspirational. 
  • Increased documentation of human rights abuses. This includes naming and shaming Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps elements and their proxies, and using the media to highlight rights abuses. Ansari emphasized that human rights must be centered in all ceasefire and peace talks. 
  • The preservation of the legitimacy of Iran’s domestic pro-democracy movement during all international engagements.

Despite the tremendous challenges, Ansari expressed sincere hope for the future of Iran. The country’s women’s rights movement dates back to the 19th century, and women in Iran continue to aspire to equal rights. Ansari views the ongoing struggle against the regime and the conflict as fundamentally about freedom and human rights, which are intersectional, intergenerational issues. She noted that the Iranian diaspora remains active and committed to pushing for human rights and free elections in Iran, and this gives her hope. 

“We need to believe and to trust that the best days of Iran are before it,” she said. “We need to keep hope.”

Dr. Thafer focused on the impact of the war on the Gulf States, noting that the significant majority of Iranian strikes have hit Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE, many hitting civilian targets. While these countries have advanced defense systems that have helped intercept missiles, Gulf countries have borne a heavy burden of this war, as normal life has been disrupted, and infrastructure damage amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars. 

The continued blockage of the Strait of Hormuz adds additional economic costs to these countries and is also blocking the flow of food, medicine, and other goods. Dr. Thafer also examined the geopolitical dynamics of the conflict, noting that Gulf countries generally oppose the conflict and it impacts how Gulf countries envision their relations with Israel, the U.S., and Iran currently and in the future. She added that while the U.S. is likely to remain a foundational ally for Gulf countries, they will follow a layered security approach and will diversify their security partnerships as much as they can. She spoke about the unique burden the war is placing on women, and the need to create intentional spaces to bring women’s voices into discussions about the conflict and its resolution.

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