March 09, 2026
SIU’s Paul Simon Institute hosts leading diplomat on March 13 to discuss Middle East conflict
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Jan Eliasson, a former Swedish and United Nations diplomat, will join Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute for a virtual discussion about the American and Israeli attack on Iran and the growing conflict in the Middle East on Friday, March 13.
Eliasson will join John Shaw, institute director, in giving an assessment of United States policy and the conflict. The free, public discussion via Zoom begins at 11 a.m.; registration at paulsimoninstitute.org/events is required to view the conversation.
“Jan Eliasson is one of the world’s most respected and experienced diplomats who has extensive experience dealing with Iranian leaders,” Shaw said. “He also lived in the United States for many years and has a nuanced appreciation of how this new war in the Middle East may affect America’s global reputation.”
Eliasson was a career Swedish diplomat and served as an adviser to the prime minister and his nation's ambassador to the United Nations. He was also an ambassador to the United States and deputy foreign minister and foreign minister.
Eliasson served in more high-level U.N. positions than anyone in that organization’s history. He was a special adviser to the secretary-general, president of the U.N. General Assembly, a special envoy to Darfur, under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and deputy secretary-general.
Shaw added that Eliasson “served at the pinnacle of global diplomacy for decades,” and spent many years dealing with conflict and tension in the Middle East, visiting Iran on several occasions.
“We are eager to hear Mr. Eliasson's perspective on how this war will end and what its costs will be to the region and to the rules-based international order,” Shaw said.
Eliasson was also part of a Dec. 17 virtual discussion with Shaw on the state of the world in 2025 and challenges facing the international system.
Shaw has written two books about Eliasson. “The Education of a Statesman: How Global Leaders Can Repair a Fractured World,” released in 2024, examines Eliasson’s career, and “The Ambassador: Inside the Life of a Working Diplomat,” released in 2006, chronicles Eliasson’s work as Sweden’s ambassador to the United Nations.
Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for Eliasson on the registration form or email questions to paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu.
More information, including a list of the institute’s upcoming events and past speakers and events, is available.