IDM Director Weighs In on Iran and Ukraine After NATO Summit Press Conference

In an interview with Al-Qahera News on 8 July 2026, following the joint press conference of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump at the conclusion of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Sebastian Schäffer, Director of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), assessed the US administration’s approach to Iran and its implications for Ukraine, highlighting concerns over a lack of strategic clarity. 

Discussing Trump’s remarks at the summit, Schäffer pointed to broader inconsistencies in US foreign policy and questioned the administration’s long-term objectives, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities. He argued that recent strikes may not have achieved their stated goals and warned that continued uncertainty around Iran could further affect global economic stability, especially given Tehran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz. 

Turning to Ukraine, Schäffer assessed the potential impact of additional US weapons deliveries following renewed Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. While Patriot air defence systems would strengthen Ukraine’s ability to protect civilians and infrastructure, he argued that long-range capabilities such as Tomahawk missiles could have greater strategic significance by enabling deeper strikes against military targets. 

Schäffer concluded by emphasizing the fundamental difference between Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against aggression and Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. 

An excerpt of the interview is available here (in Arabic): https://youtube.com/shorts/XBqkTVmlM5M?si=eVRih_RZjhTwNS7S