On February 17, 2020, former National Security Advisor Gen. H.R. McMaster visited Stanford Law School to share his perspectives on the U.S.-Iran relations and broader geopolitical implications.

Gen. McMaster presented to a packed house of Stanford students, faculty, and community members.  Professor Erik Jensen and Executive Director of Stanford’s Rule of Law Program Mehdi Hakimi moderated the discussion and supplemented their perspectives on the U.S. policy vis-à-vis Iran and regional implications.

The panelists addressed the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East following the strike that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani.  The speakers also discussed Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the evolving security situation in Iraq, the battle against ISIS, and Iran’s support for the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The event was organized by the Afghanistan Legal Education Project (ALEP).  ALEP members—Stanford law students and faculty—also talked about their work in developing legal curriculum for Afghan universities in close collaboration with legal experts and scholars in Kabul.  The panelists underscored the importance of foundational measures, such as strengthening the education system, in promoting stability and the rule of law in volatile regions.

Gen. H.R. McMaster was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. He served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. Gen. McMaster is currently serving as the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Stanford Hoover Institution. Read about his work at the institute here.

About ALEP: Founded in 2007, the Afghanistan Legal Education Project (ALEP) at Stanford Law School develops innovative legal curricula to help Afghanistan’s universities train the next generation of lawyers and leaders. ALEP is one of the projects under Stanford Law School’s Rule of Law Program. Learn more: https://law.stanford.edu/alep

About Rule of Law Program: Established in 1999, the Stanford Law School’s Rule of Law Program is the University’s vehicle for promoting the study and practice of international rule of law and development. The program serves as the scholastic and administrative umbrella for Rule of Law Projects in various countries. Learn more: https://law.stanford.edu/rule-of-law-program/