Join us for a rare opportunity to explore the region’s challenges and potential.

As tensions rise between Iran, Israel, and the United States, understanding voices from within Iranian civil society is more important than ever.

This live conversation offers direct access to those who are envisioning a different future—one built not on conflict, but on dialogue, dignity, and shared regional aspirations.

Come to listen, ask questions, and expand your perspective.

Will try to Answer questions as:

• What are the ways in which the Iranian public currently resists the regime?

• How is Israel perceived by the non-governmental Iranian public?

• Is there an internal conversation within the Iranian opposition about peace with Israel or normalization with the West?

• What can citizens in the West—especially Jews in the diaspora—do to support positive change in Iran?

📍 The event will be held in English 

📺 Livestreamed on the Middle East Center YouTube channel

🔗 To receive the Zoom link, please register here 

📩 Registered participants will receive speaker updates before the event.

Guest Speakers-

Please note that changes may occur – some speakers may not be able to join, and others may be added.

Arash Hamedian Born in Iran and currently living in Germany, Arash is an active member of the Iranian opposition advocating for a free, secular, and democratic Iran, as well as peaceful and constructive coexistence with Israel and the free world. He is currently co-authoring the book Cyrus Accords with Mr. Tom Wegner from Israel, which will be published soon.

Reza Farnood An Iranian-born civil activist and writer based in the United States, Reza holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iran and is fluent in Persian and Azerbaijani (Turkish). As a former student at a military academy, he openly opposed the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Since 1991, Reza has been a full-time activist opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Taliban in Afghanistan. He co-hosted the Democratic & Laic radio program (2003–2005) on Fairfax County Public Access, and authored a Persian-Dari language learning book. Since 2019, he has focused his research on the threats of radical Islam, communism, and foreign influence in Iran’s modern history. Reza maintains strong ties with the Iranian diaspora and works to raise global awareness of the struggles faced by the Iranian people under the oppressive regime in Tehran.

Foad Khorshidi An Iranian Christian journalist of Kurdish origin, Foad is also a pastor, preacher, and the coordinator of PLIM (Peace & Love International Ministries).

Saba Khoei With over 27 years of professional experience as a researcher, investigator, and journalist, Saba comes from a religious and ethnic minority background in Iran. She was raised in a family long situated at the intersection of culture, resistance, and persecution.

Mr. Siavosh Dehdashti An Iranian-American activist based in the United States, Siavosh is a committed member of the democratic Iranian opposition.

Mr. Sam Mirian An Iranian opposition activist based in New York, actively engaged in promoting democracy and human rights in Iran.

George Haroonian, born in 1953 in Tehran, is a founding member of Notoantisemitism.org. A lifelong advocate for community engagement, he previously served as president of the Council of Iranian American Jewish Organizations, where he played a key role in strengthening communal ties and promoting civic responsibility.

Keren Or-Paz An Israeli peace activist dedicated to fostering understanding and coexistence in the region.

Koren Eisner An Israeli tour guide and member of the Middle East Center, Koren brings a unique perspective shaped by deep regional knowledge and experience.

🎙️ Led by Tom Wegner

Senior strategic advisor, author, and Israeli peace activist

Tom Wegner has spent decades at the crossroads of diplomacy, communication, and peacebuilding. He is the founder and head of the Middle East Center, which facilitates direct dialogue between peoples of the region and promotes a shared Abrahamic consciousness.

Previously, Wegner served as spokesperson for Prime Minister Ehud Barak, media advisor to Defense Minister Amir Peretz, and spokesperson for the Peres Center for Peace. He has worked with international institutions including the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank, and supported countless Israeli-Arab coexistence initiatives.

During his IDF service, Wegner coordinated between the Israeli army and Palestinian police in Jericho.Over the years, he has developed a wide network of relationships with politicians, intellectuals, and journalists across the Muslim world.

In early 2025, he founded the Center for Normalization in the Middle East, a platform for Zoom-based dialogue and social media engagement between citizens of the region. Its initiatives range from academic lectures and rabbi-imam encounters to business collaborations and grassroots WhatsApp groups.

Wegner is an award-winning author. His bestselling books include:

• The Cannabis Wars – winner of the Global Book Award (English edition)

• The Abrahamic Revolution – a new peace vision co-authored with leaders from across the Middle East

• Union of the Believers – the first Israeli-Palestinian co-authored book, written with Elias Nasari Baboun

• The Cyrus Accords – currently in progress, co-written with Iranian author Arash Hamadian