A series of public briefings and policy forums is unfolding in Washington and New York after U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, an operation that has refocused attention on regional security, energy markets and the stalled nuclear talks with Tehran. The United Nations Security Council convened in New York on 30 June to discuss the Middle East, while the U.S. State Department held a same-day press briefing led by spokesperson Tammy Bruce. The session came amid reports of additional Palestinian fatalities at Israeli food-aid distribution points and questions about whether Israel will widen its military campaign. Think-tank activity has intensified. The Washington Institute opened the week with a forum examining prospects for renewed diplomacy and followed up with a 26 June webcast on the conflict’s energy and economic fallout. The Carnegie Endowment hosted a separate panel on 26 June, and CSIS is airing a 30 June discussion on how the strikes may affect ties among China, Russia and North Korea—an alignment some analysts dub the “Axis of Upheaval.” Experts speaking at these events are highlighting heightened risks to oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, potential escalatory scenarios involving Israel and Iran, and the likelihood that Washington and Tehran will face new hurdles in returning to nuclear negotiations.